Boardman trustees give 1st reading to levy renewals

The renewal levies are expected to appear on the May ballot.

STAFF Report

BOARDMAN — The township has begun the process of asking voters to renew two long-standing levies critical to township operations.

Trustees on Friday entertained first reading of the renewals — one for general operations and one for roads and bridges.

These passed 2-1 with Trustee Kathy Miller opposed and Trustees Larry Moliterno and Robyn Gallitto in favor.

Miller is concerned about the cost, which she says will be about $30,000 for the township because there is no Mahoning County-wide primary in May. The township would have to pay for opening local polling places.

The two levies expire at year’s end. Moliterno said the renewals are critical to keep township services at their current levels. “If we waited until November and they didn’t pass, we would have a $3 million budget shortfall,” he said. “To me, it would be irresponsible to wait until November.”

Passage of the renewals won’t cost taxpayers additional money, Administrator Jason Loree said. “It’s nothing new; just renew,” he said.

Two readings are required to place the issues on the ballot. The township is aiming for the May election.

After the first reading, the Mahoning County auditor’s office certifies how much money each of the levies will bring in.

The 3.2-mill general operations levy generates about $2.8 million annually. The 0.3-mill road and bridge levy brings in about $250,000 per year.

If approved by township voters, the renewals would be in place for five years.

A second reading is expected at the Feb. 11 township trustees meeting. Ballot information must be to the Mahoning County Board of Elections by Feb. 19.

“These levies are very critical,” Loree said. “If we are unable to pass these renewals, the township will have to review staffing and look at operations again.”

Voters last November passed a five-year, 2.2-mill safety levy that will general $2,078,924 annually for the police and fire departments. That was the first new township levy passed since 1995.

That passage followed voters’ rejection in November 2007 of a 4.1-mill general operating levy.

In between the two votes, 30 full- and 12 part-time employees were laid off and several others who left through retirement or resignation weren’t replaced. The township’s financial woes stemmed from deficits caused by changes in the state’s tangible personal property tax and the spending down of inheritance tax money.

Some employees have been called back to work, but others have not, including three firefighters and several employees from the road department and maintenance and clerical staffs.