43
Salem to ask voters for 0.5% tax increase
SEE ALSO: GOP leader says Salem tax issue is OK
SALEM
Roe Haskin said Salem needs more money.
Haskin, the director of the Salem Perry Township Crime Watch, said, “The city is in kind of a hurt right now.”
He added, “It’s like that in all cities.”
Similarly minded people have created a group, ROC.S, which stands for “Restore Our City of Salem.”
He and others are promoting a 0.5 percent increase to the 1 percent city income tax.
“We’re trying to ask people to vote ‘yes’ and keep Salem as a great place to live,” Haskin said.
The city already has a 1 percent income tax that raises about $3.8 million a year. The 0.5 percent tax, if approved, would raise about $1.9 million a year.
Besides the proposed 0.5 percent income tax starting Jan. 1 for general operations, Salem has three other issues on the ballot. They include:
A proposed ordinance by petition that would restore the income-tax credit that council canceled. The income-tax credit prevented people who work in Salem but live in another community — or people who work in another community but live in Salem — from paying an income tax twice.
The proposal was started by Columbiana County Republican Party Chairman David Johnson of Salem, who had voiced his dismay over actions of the Republicans who have the majority on council.
Salem Mayor Jerry Wolford asked for and obtained annexation of 99.8 acres of Perry Township in Columbiana County and Green Township in Mahoning County for future growth. The city does not have money to develop the land, but protesters want people to vote on the annexation. Wolford said that a “yes” vote would affirm the annexation.
Salem voters also will consider an amendment to the city ordinances to add “bed and breakfast homes” to city zoning rules. A “yes” vote would allow bed and breakfasts to operate.
Columbiana County ballot issues
Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board: The board is asking for a 1.3 mill, 10-year renewal levy that would raise $1.6 million annually to prevent and treat mental health and alcohol abuse. The money would be part of the total of the board’s $10.1 million annual budget. The program funds the Counseling Center of Columbiana County, the Family Recovery Center, Shinning Reflections, the Help Hotline Crisis Center, the National Alliance on Mental Illness Columbiana County Chapter, and the Neil Kennedy Recovery Center. The programs served 5,285 people in the fiscal year that ended June 30. The levy was last renewed in 2000. The levy was first passed by voters in 1985. The levy helps pay for help to people with low income or no insurance.
Leetonia schools: After a series of levy failures, the district is asking for new 6.8 -mill, five-year additional emergency levy, to raise $795,000 annually for operating costs. Superintendent Rob Mehno said the district has trimmed personnel and costs.
East Palestine schools: A 5.4 mill, 5-year renewal emergency levy, to raise $350,000 annually. Superintendent Tom Inchak said the levy will be used “to avoid a looming deficit.” He said the district could be $750,000 in the red based on an analysis calculated with and without state money. The shortfall could occur as early as the school year starting in the fall of 2011. “Our district has low millage,” he said. Inchak said he will be start speaking to groups and spreading information about the district’s finances. The district recently received an “excellent” rating by the state.