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Several issues on Columbiana ballot
By D.A. WILKINSON
LISBON
Efforts to pass the Columbiana County 1 percent sales tax also are helping to unite the county.
Penny Traina, president of the board of county commissioners, said that the cooperation is a dividend of the drive to pass the tax renewal.
The commissioners have gathered support from the chairmen of the county’s Democratic and Republican parties for the purchase of pro-tax signs.
Dennis Johnson, the chairman of the county Democrats, and David Johnson, the county Republican chairman, each provided $500 for “Renew the 1% Sales Tax” signs. The two chairmen are not related.
County officials face a financial crunch if the tax does not pass in the May primary. The 1 percent sales tax generates $8 million a year, or about 44 percent of the county’s general fund. The county also collects a half-percent sales tax that is not up for renewal this year.
The commissioners also have visited the county Board of Developmental Disabilities, the county mental-health board, and the Community Action Agency of Columbiana County. Traina said plans are to also talk with the board of directors of the Buckeye Water District, the Salem Area Industrial Development Corp., and the Catholic Daughters of America.
The commissioners have asked for and received letters of support from other officials throughout the county.
Commissioner Dan Bing said he also has been speaking to groups.
“It’s a grass-roots attempt for the betterment of Columbiana County,” Traina said.
In addition to getting support for the issue, communication between officials also is increasing, Traina said.
Other issues that will be on the May 4 ballot in the county are:
The Salem Public Library will have a 1.25-mill, continuing levy. Under state law, the Salem school board had to approve the proposal. Brad Stephens, the library’s director, said the issue would return $366,800 a year to the library. That amount was cut from the library’s budget last year when the state cut its funding to libraries due to revenue shortages.
If approved, the levy would go into effect in 2010 and would first be collected in 2011.
The funds would be used to restore cut hours, provide the money for books and magazines, maintain the library property, provide quality programs for youths and teens, and meet the changing needs of the Salem community.
The library has cut the equivalent of two full-time workers. It has 19 workers now, but not all work full time, Stephens said.
East Palestine is asking for a 5-mill, five-year additional street levy that would bring in about $296,200 annually. The city has 26 miles of streets, but 52 percent of streets have been rated critical, poor or fair. The city also has 11 bridges, and 30 percent have been rated critical, poor or fair.
If the tax is approved, it would go into effect in 2010. The city wants to chip and seal one mile of low-traffic road each year. The city also would pave two miles of streets each year. Paving now costs $100,000 a mile. Chip and seal roads now cost $14,000 a mile.
The levy also would upgrade two bridges each year and be used to clean and maintain storm sewers.
Columbiana is asking for an additional new 2-mill fire levy for five years starting this year. The levy would generate $269,600 a year for new equipment and the pay for personnel.