YOUNGSTOWN — A Youngstown Board of Education member who over the years has been critical of companies that avoid paying taxes on properties they own in the city, is herself thousands of dollars delinquent on tax payments for her house.

Two-term board member Jackie Adair’s Kenneth Avenue home is valued at $62,350 and has an annual tax of $933.42, according to the Mahoning County Auditor’s website. She has paid $200 of the tax but is delinquent $4,683.30. She called a news conference Monday to address the issue.

“I have been making payments,” she said. “I take that responsibility seriously, but I, like many in this city, have financial issues. I am a widow living on Social Security.

“When I get more money I will be able to pay more, but right now this is all I have to deal with,” she said.

Adair said she had been on a payment plan with the county treasurer’s office, but fell out of compliance in 2013. Adair said she plans to meet with someone in the treasurer’s office in hopes in getting on a revised plan.

She has been a vocal critic of companies seeking to reduce their property taxes when they make improvements or are looking to move into the city and reduce their tax burdens. The majority of property taxes support the local school district.

She questions why this issue about her taxes is being raised now, saying she has been in arrears during most of the time she has been on the school board.

“There are persons out there who fear my re-election. I speak the truth and ask questions about many things at board meetings,” she said. “As former chair of the board’s finance committee, I required reports, documents on district spending which has resulted in another property tax levy. My financial condition has not hindered me from performing my duties and responsibility on the school board.”

Adair is one of eight people seeking three board seats. She expressed confidence about her re-election bid.

She emphasized her tax criticism has been about companies either moving into the city or doing expansions while asking for reductions or elimination in the amount they will have to pay.

“This leaves the bulk to taxes being paid to support the school district on the backs of individual property owners,” Adair said. “The city has lost a lot of its tax base as companies have moved away and the earnings of remaining residents have declined.”

“There are others in the city having trouble paying their property taxes because of their circumstances, not because they do not want to pay,” she said. “My husband and I built our home in the 1970s. When we sent out children to Catholic schools, we paid tuition and our property taxes.”

Adair said it is not fair for companies that have the resources to pay to avoid paying taxes needed to provide quality education to Youngstown students.