Finance reports show $100K spent on 3 levy issues

YOUNGSTOWN — The committees promoting two Mahoning County renewal levies – mental health and developmental disabilities – and the Mill Creek Park District’s renewal/additional tax issue spent about $100,000 in total to convince voters to support them.

That’s according to campaign finance reports for activity between June 6 and Oct. 14 and filed with the county board of elections.

Leading the way is the Citizens for Developmental Disabilities Levy, which spend $45,755. The committee came into the pre-general-election filing period with $139,474, and raised $29,248 between June 6 and Oct. 14.

That left the committee with $122,968 as of Oct. 14.

The 3-mill, five-year renewal levy raises $11.3 million in taxes annually.

People for MetroParks Political Action Committee had $43,325 in its campaign fund before June 6, and raised $44,990 in the pre-general time-period.

Among the major donors were Ellen and Jim Tressel, and Frank and Norma Watson [Ellen’s parents]. The couples each gave $5,000 to the PAC. Denise DeBartolo York contributed $2,500.

The PAC spent $29,555 between June 6 and Oct. 14, and had $58,670 at the latter date.

The Mill Creek levy is a 1.75-mill renewal and a 0.25-mill additional for 15 years and will raise $7.6 million in taxes annually.

The Mahoning County Mental Health & Recovery Board Levy Committee raised all of its $34,000 between June 6 and Oct. 14, and spent $21,840 during the two dates.

The 0.5-mill, five-year mental health renewal levy will raise $915,489 in taxes annually.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com