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Many real-estate tax levies on ballot
YOUNGSTOWN
As the economy struggles out of a recession, Mahoning County voters will be bombarded with a host of proposed real-estate tax levies on the Nov. 2 ballot, most of them being renewals, but some of them being major new levies.
Most notable among the new levies is the 1.8-mill operating levy for the Public Library of Youngs-town and Mahoning County, which, if passed, would generate about $7,292,000 a year in operating and maintenance funds for the 16-branch library system. That levy would add about $54 a year to the property-tax bill for the owner of a $100,000 home.
Library officials say their new five-year, countywide levy is necessary to offset declines in state funding, under which the system has suffered a 34 percent loss of state money since 2001.
This year’s general-fund budget for the library system is about $12 million. The general fund, which consists of both state and local funds, is the library’s main operating fund.
The system expects to receive just under $6.6 million in state funds this year, compared with just over $8 million last year.
If the new tax passes, library officials say they’ll be able to restore cuts in library hours, which were imposed last year, and maintain a quality library system. If it fails, they say they’ll have to close five or six branches.
The library system will likely have to lay off about one-third of its 170 employees if the levy fails, according to Allen Bacon, senior executive vice president of the Service Employees International Union District 1199, which represents library employees.
Proposed countywide renewal levies, all running for five years, are 3 mills for the county Board of Developmental Disabilities, 0.85-mill for the county Children Services Board and a half-mill for the county Mental Health Board.
In the local jurisdictions, the most notable proposed new levy is 3.85 mills for Boardman police. That five-year levy would raise $3,810,317 annually and add $116.80 a year to the property-tax bill of the owner of a $100,000 home.
Passage of the levy would “expedite” the trustees’ goal of having 57 township police officers within the next five years, according to Boardman Trustee Tom Costello. There are now 49 township officers.
Boardman voters will also decide the fate of several renewal levies: 0.7-mill for the township and three separate school levies of 6 mills, 5.9 mills and 1.6 mills. All are five-year measures, except the 1.6-mill tax, which would run for three years.
Poland voters will consider a 3.9-mill additional emergency school levy, which would raise $1,485,900 annually, and a 2-mill township replacement levy, which would raise $599,026 annually. Both are five-year measures.
The new school levy would add $116.80 annually to the tax bill for the owner of a $100,000 home.
The new tax is “critical” to keep the school district fiscally sound after cuts in state support, according to Dr. Robert L. Zorn, schools superintendent.
Canfield voters will consider a 6.8-mill continuous new school levy, which would raise $3,793,502 annually, and a 0.42-mill, five-year, fire department renewal levy generating $206,720 annually.
The 6.8-mill levy would be the first new school levy in eight years and would add $208.20 a year to the tax bill for a $100,000 home.
A new levy is needed to avoid deficit spending over the next several years, said Patricia Kesner, school district treasurer.
Austintown voters will consider four five-year renewal levies: a 1-mill road- and bridge-improvement levy, a 0.6-mill township current-expense levy, and school levies of 7.3 and 4.9 mills.
Campbell voters will consider a 3.5 mill, five-year additional current- expense levy that would raise $277,279 annually for the city, which has been in fiscal emergency since 2004.
Faced with the prospect of running out of money and shutting down city government this fall, Campbell city officials have had to rework the budget to eliminate a $463,000 deficit.
Jackson Township voters will consider a 1.5-mill, five-year additional fire department levy that would raise $107,550 annually.