Commissioners still evaluating whether to impose sales-tax increase

Staff report

WARREN

Trumbull County commissioners will meet with Auditor Adrian Biviano to further discuss their proposal to increase the county sales tax by a quarter of a percent, Commissioner Dan Polivka said.

“This has to be a board decision,” Polivka said after the commissioners meeting Wednesday.

He was asked whether the commissioners will consider citizen suggestions that they wait for a citizens group or the state auditor’s office to review the county finances before imposing the tax.

Another suggestion was putting the increase on the ballot.

Those suggestions came from two public hearings that took place in the past week.

The commissioners would like to increase the rate from 6.75 percent to 7 percent, which would raise an additional $6 million per year.

In other business, Scott Verner, assistant sanitary engineer, reported to commissioners that the sanitary engineer’s office has hired Reminger Attorneys at Law of Youngstown to help the agency complete two sewer projects that have been plagued by change orders and problems with petroleum-conaminated soils — the one on state Route 193 in the Vienna Township area and the Kinsman Township sewer project.