Complacency could affect county sales tax renewal

2The statement from Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene about the uncertain future of the justice sales tax is why Tuesday’s primary election demands more than a meager turnout.

Indeed, Joyce Kale-Pesta, director of the county board of elections, is predicting that only 10 percent to 12 percent of the registered voters will cast ballots. That’s troubling on so many levels.

Granted, it’s an odd-numbered election year, but we would hope that residents care enough about the well-being of Mahoning County to come out and support the renewal of the 0.75 percent sales tax.

This is not a new tax, it does not increase the county’s overall sales-tax rate, and the revenue generated is earmarked for the sheriff’s department, the prosecutor’s and coroner’s offices and 911 dispatching services.

Passage of the only countywide issue on the ballot should be a no-brainer. However, if Kale-Pesta, a veteran elections official, is right in her prediction, it could be a roll of the dice. It’s difficult to predict who will be going to the polls.

There’s a general belief that individuals who support a tax issue will take the time to vote during a primary election.

However, Sheriff Greene’s concern about the outcome of the justice sales tax issue is justified given its history.

In 2014, voters approved passage by 1,322 votes in the general election. The turnout that year was 41.5 percent.

The justice tax was first introduced in the primary election, and voters rejected it. The 539-vote defeat occurred when 21.9 percent of the registered voters participated.

That’s why there’s uncertainty surrounding Tuesday’s election.

“What I’m finding here is most of the people aren’t even aware that there’s any issue on the ballot in their area,” Greene conceded.

There’s an important point that needs to be emphasized: Every Mahoning County voter is eligible to vote on the justice sales tax renewal – even if there aren’t any races in their communities.

There are citywide Democratic primaries in Youngstown and Struthers, and school issues in Campbell, Springfield and West Branch.

The prediction of the low voter turnout is based on the small number of races.

But, given what’s at stake with the justice sales tax, we urge all Mahoning County voters to participate in the primary.

“The main thing is people understand … this is a dedicated source of revenue for the four offices,” said Audrey Tillis, executive director for the county commissioners. “The lion’s share of this revenue goes to support the sheriff’s office.”

The 0.75 percent sales tax is projected to generate $25,168,000 for the sheriff’s department, prosecutor’s and coroner’s offices, the 911 dispatching services.

Huge cuts

Tillis told The Vindicator that rejection of the renewal could lead to $12.2 million in cuts in justice services by 2021. The majority of the reductions would come from the sheriff’s department, and that could be disastrous for the criminal justice system.

“We have mandated services, but the problem that I would see would be the inability to provide adequate mandated services,” the sheriff told The Vindicator. “I couldn’t imagine us being able to function at all without this tax.”

County officials, including commissioners Anthony Traficanti, Carol Rimedio-Righetti and David Ditzler, have hosted public hearings around the county to not only explain the need for the tax renewal, but to elicit input from residents.

They have made no secret of the fact that the renewal issue will be on the November general election ballot if it is rejected this week,

There undoubtedly are residents who believe such tax issues should only be voted on in general elections so a greater percentage of the electorate can have a say.

While we agree with having as many residents as possible expressing their opinions about the county’s financial well-being, Traficanti, Rimedio-Righetti and Ditzler must hedge their bets.

Without the revenue from the justice tax, the county could find itself in state-declared fiscal watch. The commissioners would then be forced to slash non-mandated services to meet state minimum standards. The county jail must adhere to strict regulations.

There’s no reason for Mahoning County residents to withhold their support for the renewal of the sales tax.