Petitions go easy on issues for ballot

Only four school districts in Mahoning County have issues on the November ballot.

In these tough economic times, only one community in Mahoning County will have a new tax issue on the November ballot.

And even that is a relatively modest request.

Green Township is seeking a 1.2-mill additional levy to raise $87,486 a year for five years to pay for fire services.

Thursday was the deadline to file petitions with county boards of elections for issues, questions and liquor options to get on the Nov. 3 election ballot.

It was also the deadline for candidates wanting to run for township trustees and for seats on boards of education.

Only four school districts in Mahoning County have issues on the November ballot.

The biggest one is a request from the Austintown school district for a 2.4-mill, 37-year bond issue and a 0.5-mill, 37-year additional levy to pay for its $26.7 million portion of a building-improvement project.

The state would pay the remainder of the $50 million project if voters approve the school request to borrow money.

Several communities are asking residents to approve aggregate-electricity and/or natural-gas deals. The communities would negotiate on behalf of its residents with companies selling electricity and/or gas in bulk seeking lower rates.

If the ballot measures are approved, residents can opt out of any deal made by their community officials.

Among the more notable officeholders not seeking re-election in November are Canfield Township Trustee Bill Reese and Ellsworth Trustee Steve Martin.

Reese’s decision didn’t spur too many others to run.

But there are nine candidates for the two trustee positions on the November ballot in Ellsworth. Incumbent Trustee Douglas W. Gedra is seeking re-election.

Joyce Pogany, an Austintown school board member for 26 years, isn’t seeking re-election. Traci Morse, elected four years ago to an Austintown school board position, also isn’t running again.

There are seven candidates seeking three seats on the Austintown school board. The only incumbent running for re-election is Richard R. Zimmerman.

Three incumbents are running for re-election to the Youngstown board of education. There are three other candidates running for Youngstown school board positions.

skolnick@vindy.com