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Board OKs tax break
By jeanne starmack
liberty
Township trustees approved a tax abatement for a planned 86-unit Comfort Suites hotel on Belmont Avenue.
Trustees Jason Rubin and Jodi Stoyak voted in favor of the abatement, while Stan Nudell abstained because he works for the real-estate company that sold the property to the developer.
The developer, Perni & Perni Equities, LLC, of Hubbard, is asking for a 49 percent, 10-year abatement for the $6.5 million project.
The property is across from the Station Square restaurant.
“There’s going to be a lot more development on Belmont,” Nudell said. “When you have a tax abatement, people will come to your community and build.”
“I’m thrilled it’s 49 percent, not 100 percent, so the township will be receiving some taxes,” Stoyak said.
One township resident spoke against the abatement.
“I didn’t realize that the township was so flush with cash that we could give it away,” said Ed Palumbo.
He said the trustees shouldn’t ask for a new tax — a 1.25-mill, five-year road levy that will be on the May ballot — if they allow the tax abatement.
“If you want a tax abatement, fine. But don’t turn around and ask me for a levy that’s been voted down twice,” he said.
The township has received petitions and letters about bad roads and has decided to ask voters for the tax again. The money it generates will be used for resurfacing only.
Palumbo pointed out that Liberty has the highest taxes of the townships in Trumbull County.
Nudell said the township’s safety services are the reason why.
“The thing is, we have full-time services,” he said. “People voted that in.”
He said that by giving 49 percent, the township can attract development and, in 10 years, get the full amount. He said the township also will collect a bed tax.
Taxes actually will go down for people when the township grows, which is because of a wider distribution, he said after the meeting.