Two commissioners say sales tax hike still possible

By Ed Runyan

runyan@vindy.com

WARREN

Two of the three Trumbull County commissioners clarified Thursday that they expect there to be sufficient revenue to get through 2016 without a sales-tax increase or layoffs – but it’s still possible they will increase the sales tax.

“At some point it has to be done,” Commissioner Frank Fuda said. “We as commissioners have to make the tough decisions to keep the county operating.

“We’re not healthy financially. I hate to wait until the last minute to decide [on a sales-tax increase] and be in the same position as Niles is in.”

Fuda, a Niles resident and longtime Niles council member before being elected commissioner, was referring to Niles’ being placed in fiscal emergency in 2014 by the Ohio Auditor’s Office because of deficit spending.

Niles asked its voters for an income-tax increase in last month’s election, but voters turned it down. “If you look at Niles, they are desperate to pass a levy now,” Fuda said.

The county commissioners had hearings in April on increasing the sales-tax rate by a quarter percent to raise an additional $6 million per year but backed off after hearing negative feedback.

Commissioner Dan Polivka said Thursday he would not be in favor of imposing a sales-tax increase in 2016. Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa said “probably not” when he was asked about it.

Auditor Adrian Biviano said the decision rests with the commissioners, but he believes the county needs more revenue.

“It’s a decision all three commissioners have to make,” said Fuda, whose current term runs two more years. Polivka must run for re-election in 2016, and Cantalamessa will be running in 2016 for his first full term.

Cantalamessa was elected by the Trumbull County Democratic Party in 2014 to replace Commissioner Paul Heltzel after Heltzel died. Cantalamessa defeated a Republican challenger in November 2014 to serve through the end of 2016.

Commissioners had a second day of budget hearings Thursday, talking to Ernie Cook, chief deputy for the sheriff’s office and county 911 director.

The 911 center is providing dispatching for the Warren Police Department, but the $480,000 Warren is paying for the service is covering the additional expenses at the county 911 center, Cook said.

The addition of Warren, Hubbard, Liberty, Newton Falls and Weathersfield to the county 911 center has tripled the county 911 center’s revenues since 2011 – $355,000 to $1,090,000, Cook said. The other dispatching centers in the county are in Niles, Girard and Lordstown.

Because so many of the dispatching operations in Trumbull County have consolidated, the county will be compliant with state guidelines for about two more years, Cook said. Counties not complying with consolidation guidelines are in danger of losing the wireless 911 revenue they get from the state.

Trumbull County gets about $35,000 per month from the fees, which are charged to all wireless phone users.