Mahoning officials brainstorm on how to sell the sales tax to taxpayers

YOUNGSTOWN

Mahoning County officials said the key to building voter support for the sales tax that will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot is to talk in terms of the continued benefits voters will receive from its passage.

“The bottom line of these taxpayers is: Why do I want to pay this sales tax?” said Carol McFall, chief deputy county auditor.

The answers to the question: “What do we do to help these taxpayers?” needs to be the campaign focus, she said.

“Which just basically goes back, Carol, to the services that each department provides, whether it’s criminal justice or the auditor,” replied county Prosecutor Paul J. Gains.

The discussion of the sales-tax campaign strategy occurred in a Thursday county commissioners’ staff meeting.

The meeting was in advance of public hearings on the sales tax, which will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Covelli Centre in downtown Youngstown, and at 6 p.m. June 30 at McMahon Hall at the Mill Creek MetroParks Farm in Canfield.

Those attending the hearings will find two options on the table.

Read more about the meetings and the tax in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.