County seeks sales-tax renewal
John McNally IV
Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony Traficanti
County government needs at least a 1 percent sales tax, a commissioner says.
Staff Report
YOUNGSTOWN — The public will have a chance to comment at two hearings concerning renewal of the half-percent Mahoning County sales tax that expires at the end of 2010.
The county commissioners will conduct the hearings at 10 a.m. Monday and July 27 in their county courthouse basement hearing room, 120 Market St.
To put the measure before the voters Nov. 3, the commissioners would have to pass a resolution to do so by Aug. 20. The renewal must pass Nov. 3 or next May to ensure uninterrupted collection of the tax.
The tax is one of two half-percent county sales taxes. The voters renewed the other one on a continuous basis in May 2007.
Previously, the commissioners placed each tax on the ballot as a five-year measure.
Each sales tax raises about $14 million annually for the county’s general fund, which is its main operating fund.
Total general fund revenues from all sources were $67 million last year, but the county auditor predicts the current economic recession will reduce that to $59 million this year.
Dependent on the general fund are the sheriff’s department, prosecutor, courts, 911 center, elections board and many more county departments.
Anthony T. Traficanti, chairman of the county commissioners, has said the county can’t operate on less than a 1 percent sales tax, and that he supports putting the measure that’s now under consideration for renewal on the Nov. 3 ballot as a continuous tax. Jail operations alone cost the county more than $20 million annually, he noted.
Commissioner John A. McNally IV has said he leans toward a continuous renewal of this tax, but he’s reluctant “to jumble” the Nov. 3 ballot with too many levies if social service agencies also ask for renewals at that time.
McNally said he believes the public understands that the county needs a 1 percent sales tax and that he thinks it would pass whether it goes on the ballot Nov. 3 or next May. He also predicted a continuous tax would pass.