Columbiana County officials pushing renewal of sales tax

There’s nothing like rejection to get the juices flowing — as the commissioners in Columbiana County are demonstrating with the aggressive campaign they’ve launched for the continuation of the 1 percent sales tax.

Last November, the tax issue was rejected by the voters who believed they were being asked to approve a tax increase. The word additional was included in the ballot language by the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office.

Commissioners Jim Hoppel, Penny Traina and Daniel Bing tried to reassure taxpayers. They pointed out that the 1 percent tax had been approved by the voters twice before, but to no avail. That one word — additional — triggered a 62 percent no vote.

So, the issue is back on the ballot this May, and once again commissioners Hoppel, Traina and Bing are telling voters that what they are being asked approve is the renewal of a tax that has been on the books for several years.

But acutely aware of last November’s rejection, they are reaching out to various entities in the county for endorsements.

Last month, the chairman of the Republican Party, David Johnson, and his Democratic counterpart, Dennis Johnson, publicly expressed their support for the continuation of the sales tax.

“Renewing the county sales tax is valuable and needed for the citizens of the county,” David Johnson said. “We don’t want to go backward. It’s not an additional tax. It’s crucial that we all work together.”

The two party chairmen have set aside partisan politics and are working together for passage.

Earlier this month, the commissioners sent a letter out to members of various boards, county officials and “concerned professionals” seeking letters of support for the tax.

Those will be made public during the weekly meetings of the county commissioners.

The letter from the commissioners states in part, “Over the last eight months we have been campaigning for passage of the 1 percent sales tax. It has been an uphill struggle. We have been trying to impress upon the public the importance of this tax. The continuation of this tax will ensure the maintenance of the daily operation of the County and our ability to supply the services our citizens need.”

As of Tuesday, 21 letters of support had been received by the commissioners.

Such public backing is important, given voter cynicism toward government and the very real concerns many taxpayers have about their own finances as they weather the national economic storm that kicked up two years ago.

Spending cuts

A story in Wednesday’s Vindicator focused on some of the letters, including one from Tracy Drake, chief executive officer of the Columbiana County Port Authority, which is leading the county’s economic development.

The authority does not receive any general fund money, but Drake said the tax renewal would help government “maintain the basic services that any employer looking to locate or stay depends upon.”

The general fund is fed by the revenue from two sales taxes: The 1 percent, which is expected to generate about $8 million a year; and, the 0.5 percent tax; which brings in about $4 million.

The commissioners are doing everything they can to not only reassure the voters that they aren’t being asked to approve an additional tax, but are also reaching out to various interest groups in the county for support.

That should be a winning strategy.