Commissioners put phone numbers on flier about sales tax

By D.A. Wilkinson | August 13, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

County officials are making themselves available after hours to answer voters’ questions.

LISBON — Have a question about the renewal of the county’s 1-percent sales tax?

You could call the commissioners at the courthouse.

Or you can call them at home.

Commissioners Jim Hoppel, Penny Traina and Dan Bing have put their home phone numbers on a flier that states their case for the renewal of the tax.

The commissioners on Wednesday voted to put the sales tax on the November ballot.

The move came after two public hearings that did not produce any opposition.

The commissioners could have placed the 1-percent sales on the ballot as a permanent tax.

However, the commissioners agreed to put it on the ballot to run for another five years, if voters agree.

Hoppel, who helped get the 1-percent tax passed eight years ago, said officials had talked with people to get opinions on the possible change.

The voters, he said, “preferred the five years.”

When asked why they wanted the five-year tax, Hoppel said people wanted, “to keep our feet to the fire.”

The 1-percent tax brings in about $8 million a year, or about 44 percent of the county’s annual revenue. Without it, the county would be in financial trouble.

The county also collects a 0.5-percent sales tax that brings in about $4 million annually.

“We will be accountable,” Traina said. “We’ve been good stewards of money and will continue that.”

The commissioners said that when it came down to it, people said they wanted the five-year tax over a permanent tax.

In order to get the 1-percent tax passed the first time, the county agreed not to collect 2 mills of property taxes in return for support of the sales tax.

The commissioners have kept their promise. The tax would have raised about $3 million but the sales tax brought in much more,

As a result, the fliers being distributed read “A Promise Made — A Promise Kept.”

The tax information is given in a question and answer format.

Traina pointed out that the commissioners have been trying to be transparent as they work on various projects.

The commissioners said they already get phone calls at home on other issues.

To reach the commissioners at the courthouse during the day, call (330) 424-9511 and dial ext. 1151.

XTraina’s home number is (330) 532-2684; Hoppel’s number is (330) 386-4187; and Bing can be reached at (330) 853-1941.

wilkinson@vindy.com