Ballot language approved for 1% tax renewal

By D.A. WILKINSON

wilkinson@vindy.com

LISBON

The Columbiana County commissioners have the ballot language they want for the renewal of the county’s 1-percent sales tax.

Now they have to decide how to get the message out to voters before the May primary.

The Ohio secretary of state’s office has approved the ballot language that twice states the tax is a continuation of an existing tax.

If approved, the tax would bring in about $8 million a year, or about 44 percent of the county’s general fund.

The original wording stated that the commissioners wanted “an existing sales and use-tax levy.” The word “levy” was removed from the ballot language because a levy is a different form of tax.

The renewal was defeated last fall after the secretary of state’s office approved language saying it was an “additional” tax.

Penny Traina, the president of the commissioners, said: “We’re trying to get out to civic organizations and local boards and obviously talk with them. We want to make ourselves available to the tax payers of the county if they have any questions, and we want to be able to answer those questions.”

Traina added, “We recognize the economic times that our taxpayers are faced with.”

The chairmen of both political parties have supported the renewal as has The Tri-County Tea Party.

Commissioner Dan Bing said the commissioners are reminding people the tax is a renewal.

“We’ve been fiscally responsible,” he added.

Commissioner Jim Hoppel said he’s not sure how the commissioners will proceed with their campaign.

The commissioners have each paid $300 in the past to pay for pro-sales tax signs. “One year, I paid for all of them,” Hoppel said.