‘Cents Make Sense’ slogan returning to boost sales tax

STAFF REPORT

LISBON — The “Cents Make Sense” campaign will be back before voters this fall.

The Columbiana County commissioners want voters to renew a 1-percent sales tax that generates about $8 million a year, or about 44 percent of the county’s spending.

The commissioners have used the “Cents Make Sense” slogan before. “This is the 13th year, and it may have been around before that,” Commissioner Jim Hoppel said.

Commissioner Penny Traina had suggested the commissioners try a new slogan, “Nothing New, Just Renew.”

She said she gave up the idea after discovering the high cost of new signs.

“The board of commissioners is sharing the cost in order to promote the sales tax,” Traina said.

“Anybody can contribute,” Hoppel added.

The “Cents” signs were professionally made and consist of a blue plastic sign that slides over a wire frame that easily can be pushed into the ground.

In 2006, the Democratic and Republican parties in the county each contributed $1,000 to the “Cents” campaign.