Mahoning and Columbiana county budget commissions meet jointly Monday

LISBON

The budget commissions of Mahoning and Columbiana counties will meet jointly at 10 a.m. Monday in the Columbiana County auditor’s office in the county courthouse in Lisbon to discuss tax rates in overlapping jurisdictions.

The matter concerns resolution of a complex dispute over sharing of real estate and city income taxes between the city of Salem and Mahoning County’s South Range School District from a Home Depot store built about 10 years ago on Green Township, Mahoning County, land that was annexed to Salem.

Salem entered into a tax increment financing agreement with Home Depot in 2005.

Salem straddles the Mahoning and Columbiana County boundary with portions of that city located in both counties.

The budget commissions consist of the auditors, treasurers and prosecutors of both counties.

The two commissions met previously on this issue in Lisbon on Nov. 23.

Ralph Meacham, Mahoning County auditor, said the dispute likely concerns a net total of less than $20,000 in taxes, according to Ohio Department of Taxation calculations.