Canfield mayor works the voters on income tax decision day

CANFIELD

City Mayor Bernie Kosar Sr. handed out pieces of candy to city residents as they walked into St. Michael Catholic Church off of state Route 46 today.

Today is the half-percent income tax increase vote in the city.

Kosar said he briefly went to the Mill Creek MetroParks Farm, where two of the eight precincts are located, but that was slower there.

The tas measure would generate an additional $1.5 million for the city. Canfield enacted its 1 percent income tax in 1972.

"I'm seeing a lot higher turnout than I thought" it would be, he said. "I think we're going to go way over" 15 percent turnout, which is what Mahoning County Board of Elections director Joyce Kale-Pesta had hoped.

Kosar said he changed the mind of three voters after giving them an educational handout from the Canfield citizens group that was formed to educate the public on why the city was asking for more funds.

"Once they know the facts" their tune changed "and maybe that's on us because we didn't educate the voters enough."

There was a steady stream of voters at the church from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. as Kosar shook hands, gave out candy and talked with neighbors and residents.

"I really have no sense of what to expect," he said.