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« Opinion
Making sales tax permanent will bring financial stability
If the Mahoning County commissioners are intentionally being silent about the sales tax issue that will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot, we would urge them to rethink that strategy.
Commissioners Anthony Traficanti, David Ludt and John A. McNally IV should be canvassing the county to let voters know that support for the half-percent sales tax is vital to government’s economic stability.
From the time the decision was made in July to put the half-percent sales tax issue on the ballot for a continuous period, we have urged passage. That’s because it is not a new tax. Making it permanent, however, will enable the commissioners to get involved in long-range fiscal planning, which has long been viewed as a key to the county’s stability.
It’s important to look at this issue in the context of what is going on in the rest of the state. Half the counties in Ohio already have piggyback tax rates that exceed that of Mahoning County.
The state’s basic sales tax is 5.5 percent. Local sales taxes bring the rate in various counties from a low of 6.25 percent in four counties to 7.75 percent in one, Cuyahoga. which has a 1.25 percent county tax and 1 percent mass transit tax. Mahoning County has two half-percent sales taxes and a quarter-percent transit tax. The total 6.75 percent is the same as in 16 of Ohio’s 88 counties.
But such comparisons are of little consolation to taxpayers who are struggling to make ends meet in these difficult economic times. Indeed, the county’s March retail sales tax receipts, which reflect sales from the 2008 Christmas season, were down from the previous March. It marked the fifth consecutive month of decline.
Although commissioners said the March number was not as bad as they had expected, the five-month downward trend was not good news.
Traficanti said it shows that people aren’t spending and that the high unemployment rate is having a negative effect on economic activity.
Projected decline
The two half-percent sales taxes normally generate about $14 million each for the county’s general fund. At the beginning of this year, the county auditor’s office projected a decline of about 3 percent from the $28.25 million collected in 2008.
The general fund supports the sheriff’s department, prosecutor, courts, 911 center, elections board and many other county agencies.
In July, the commissioners held two public hearings on the renewal of the half-percent sales tax, but attendance was sparse. County officials might have concluded that the apparent lack of interest is an indication that people are satisfied with the way county government is operating and how public dollars are being spent.
But as we warned three months ago, the poor turnout could just as well reflect a cynicism that could affect the outcome of the renewal request.
Hence we believe the commissioners should go all-out between now and Nov. 3 to prove to the voters that their opinions matter.
As for financing the campaign, we would remind county Democratic Party Chairman David Betras of a pledge he made during the summer to use the party’s resources for passage of the renewal.
The Vindicator supports making the half-percent tax permanent — with the understanding the commissioners and all other public officials will continue to reduce the size of the government to reflect today’s economic realities.
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Comments
Why don't we just sacrifice our entire paychecks to the government? They know how to spend our hard earned money better then we.
Folks it's time to vote NO.
The commissioners have waisted this money and now want us to permanently aprrove this un-necessary tax? We don't need this county funding to provide jobs to their friends and family members.
They could cut their way out of the tax if they wanted to do it.
Join me in saying NO to the commissioners again. I don't know about your personal valley finances, but mine are hurting really badly in this economy. I need all the tax relief I can get. While your at it, think about Governor Stricknine wanting to come after your wallet with his cancellation of the state tax cut. If that passes, we'll be a hurtin even more in the wallet.
They need to budget cut their way out of budget problems, not continue high taxes. Join me in voting NO.
Whenever a Government cannot afford to pay for NON-essential services, the voters WILL ALWAYS see a levy issue to pay for Essential Services.
I'm with the above poster. The last time the tax was put on the ballot, the commissioners lied to us and said- Nothing New, Just Renew- They failed to mention that it was not just a five year renewal, but a permanent tax! I also will vote No on the issue and urge others to do the same.
"Traficanti said it shows that people aren’t spending and that the high unemployment rate is having a negative effect on economic activity."
Remember the electric savings that you would reimburse the ectric company for ? The government ok'd your paying to the electric company for what you didn't use . Well this is the same mentality . The politicians view is that the appetite of government must be satisfied .
The appetite for sales taxes is voracious in Chicago . Have they topped out ? No way !
Jul 1, 2008 5:49 pm US/Central Sales Tax Hike In Effect; Will Shoppers Revolt?
Taxes In Chicago Now 10.25 Percent, Highest In Nation
http://cbs2chicago.com/local/cook.county...
Vote No and send them a message to cut the waste.
...once again, we have the best government money can buy! Wake up, folks. They are a bunch of dedicated amateurs wasting all our money.
I want the continued accountability of having to come back and ask our approval, which we can withhold. That way we don't have to deal with repealing an errant sales tax increase, should we find that's the case.
They need the money to provide jobs, good paying jobs with pensions and health care unheard of elsewhere. These jobs are mostly for friends and family of the connected. Government will continue to take more as long as citizens just blindly let them. I'm voting no. Don't feed the buffoons.
Making sales taxes permanent on top of all the other taxes just reduces the citizen's buying, saving and investing power.
I agree Jenny Chan. These jobs are mostly for friends and family of the connected. They could not even coordinate the language on the tax ballot correctly.
They are blaming it on a clerk. With all of the administrators this one got through the cracks. WOW. Maybe they should hire a ballot language administrator!!!