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Mahoning Sales tax squeaks by
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
Mahoning County voters approved a 0.75-percent sales tax dedicated to justice and security, but by a slim margin.
Unofficial election results show 51 percent of voters cast ballots in Tuesday’s election in favor of the tax with 49 percent against.
“It’s bittersweet,” said David Ditzler, Mahoning County commissioners’ chairman. “Obviously, we’d rather be one vote ahead than one vote behind. It just means we have to work even harder to earn the trust and respect of the people five years from now when it comes up as a renewal.”
The five-year ballot initiative renewed an existing 0.5 percent sales tax and added another 0.25 percent. It will raise about $24 million annually for the Mahoning County sheriff’s department, prosecutor’s and coroner’s offices and the 911 emergency dispatch center. The sheriff’s office runs the county jail and patrols road in certain parts of the county.
Last spring, voters narrowly rejected an attempt by the county to permanently renew the 0.5 percent sale tax. That measure lost by 519 votes.
Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene said the commissioners listened to the complaints of the public and made the sales tax a renewal and dedicated it specifically for criminal justice.
“Now it’s a matter of proving that’s a worthy cause,” he said.
The passage doesn’t mean more money for Greene’s department, the sheriff said.
“It’s just keeping our services where they are right now,” Greene said. “It’s brought stability to the criminal justice system which is always a good thing.”
That will allow him to focus on criminal justice rather than worrying about the passage of a sales tax, he said.
Ditzler said passage of the tax allows that money to be dedicated to criminal justice. But the narrow margin means county officials still have some work to do with voters.
“I think that it says we have to do a much better job of being transparent with people about how their money is being spent: make sure they know what it means to run a jail, what it means to run a prosecutor’s office,” he said.
“Obviously, we’re elated that it passed, so that we maintain the services for the protection of Mahoning County, and I think Jerry Greene’s done a great job,” Ditzler said.
“We’re going to have to make sure that we do everything to watch our dollars and cents so that we earn the respect and the vote of the people in the future because it’s only on for five years,” he added.
Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony Traficanti said he’s thankful to the public that they did what was best for the county and approved the tax.
“This sales tax is our lifeline,” he said. “It will sustain our criminal justice and safety system.”
He said he believes the county does a good job of informing the public of the status of county finances through a regular newsletter; he hopes to initiate postings to the website, as well.
“The constituents voted for our community, and they voted for our future, and they understood our message. And they realized that safety comes first, and I could not thank the taxpayers enough for believing in us and giving us that vote. And we will watch every single dollar that we have, and we will keep the jail fully funded,” Traficanti said. “We will continue to move this community forward the best we can,” he added.
Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti said she doesn’t care if the victory is by only one vote. Commissioners, Greene and other committee members worked “tirelessly” to ensure passage.