More folks show up for second public hearing on Mahoning County sales tax renewal

YOUNGSTOWN — In sharp contrast to the sparsely attended hearing last week, the Mahoning County commissioners got an earful of opinions on both sides of the half-percent sales tax renewal in an hour-long hearing attended by about 40 people this morning.

“It’s hard for you folks to do your jobs when you can’t consistently plan on a revenue stream, and this half-percent sales tax will allow you to do that,” County Treasurer Lisa Antonini, who supports renewing the tax on a continuous basis, told the commissioners.

“The one-percent sales tax is doing nothing for the county but driving business away, and we’re losing our young people daily,” said Everett DeRose of Boardman, who opposes this half-percent sales tax, which expires at the end of 2010, and the one the voters renewed continuously in May 2007.

The commissioners have placement of the sales tax renewal on the Nov. 3 ballot on the agenda for their 9 a.m. Tuesday meeting in the county courthouse basement. They are considering renewing the tax for five years, 10 years or on a continuous basis.

Each half-percent sales tax raises about $14 million a year for the county’s general fund.

For the complete story, see Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com