Mahoning officials place sales-tax levy for permanent collection on fall ballot

By Peter H. Milliken

The local Democratic Party will back the tax renewal, its chairman says.

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County voters will decide in November if they want a half-percent sales tax renewal to be permanent.

County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to place the sales tax on the fall ballot for renewal as a continuous measure to ensure long-term reliability of county government income, the commissioners’ chairman said.

“A continuous tax was chosen today to stabilize the county revenues so the county can continue to do future budgeting,” said Anthony T. Traficanti, commissioners’ chairman. “The continuous tax will be just what we’ve had. It is not an increase,” he added.

The commissioners had considered five- and 10-year renewals, but opted for a continuous renewal measure.

“I think the times of the on-again, off-again issue have been put to rest,” said Commissioner John A. McNally IV.

“Without the sales tax, we do not have a future. Our families do not have a future. Our community will, in fact, die on the vine,” Traficanti said.

The commissioners decided to place the tax on the Nov. 3 ballot because, if it fails then, it can be returned to the ballot in May, Traficanti explained.

The renewal must pass in November or next May to ensure uninterrupted collection of the tax, which expires at the end of 2010.

The voters renewed the county’s other half-percent sales tax on a continuous basis in May 2007. Each sales tax raises about $14 million annually for the county’s general fund, which is the county’s main operating fund. The sales tax is the largest source of general fund revenue.

Dependent on the general fund are the sheriff’s department, prosecutor, courts, 911 center, elections board and many other county departments.

“That 1 percent is our insurance policy for our future. It is our lifeline to our county,” Traficanti added.

Due to the recession, the county auditor projects this year’s general fund revenue to be $59 million compared to $67 million last year.

If present trends continue, George J. Tablack, county administrator, projects this year’s sales tax revenue will be $2.5 million below last year’s figure. State funding, interest income, and property transfer tax collections are also down, he said.

“It’s because of concessions of many unions [representing county workers] that we’re able to still continue to function and keep the level of services up, including keeping the jail open,” Tablack said.

Atty. David Betras, county Democratic Party chairman, told the commissioners the party’s resources would be behind them in their campaign to renew the sales tax.