The May 5 primary ballot has nothing but renewal tax levies for Mahoning County voters.

Schools, townships and villages will have renewals before their voters, and everyone will decide on a county sales tax renewal.

The Mahoning County sales tax renewal is for a 0.25%, five-year sales and use tax specifically for roads and bridges. The tax brings in approximately $10 million annually that is divided three ways — $4 million is used for regular county paving projects, another $4 million is split among the townships based on need and the remaining $2 million is used for bridge repairs.

Mahoning County Engineer Pat Ginnetti said it was first passed in November 2021 as a quarter percent additional sales tax and took effect in 2022. It expires in 2027, but Ginnetti feels it is important to pass it now.

“If we can pass this now, there will not be a break in the service,” he said.

During a visit to Canfield Township earlier this year, Ginnetti said highway paving and construction costs have increased 278% over the past five years, and it can put a serious strain on a budget. The sales tax has helped in having more roads resurfaced and repaired.

BOARDMAN LEVIES

Boardman voters will have three township levies on the primary ballot: a 0.7-mill, five-year renewal levy for operating expenses that will raise $285,545 annually, a 3-mill, five-year renewal levy for operating expenses to raise $1,431,290 annually, and a 3.85-mill, five-year renewal levy for police operations to raise $3,700,203 annually.

The three renewals account for $5.42 million of the township’s operating budget.

Fiscal Officer Brad Calhoun said in a Vindicator interview in February: “If these do not pass, we will be having a very different conversation.”

He said if any of the renewals fail in May, they will definitely be back on the November ballot.

The 0.7 mill levy renewal will cost $6 per $100,000 of valuation. The 3-mill levy renewal will cost $31 per $100,000, and the 3.85-mill levy renewal will cost $83 per $100,000.

Boardman voters also will be voting on a 5.9-mill, five-year renewal for school operating expenses. The renewal accounts for $4,266,848 annually and costs $101 for each $100,000 in valuation. This levy originally passed in 1996 and has been renewed five times (2000,2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020). According to information provided by Boardman Schools Communications Coordinator Amy Radinovic, this renewal levy supports personnel costs, educational materials such as textbooks, software and classroom supplies, utilities and maintenance for buildings and grounds, and transportation fuel and upkeep for school buses.

“The renewal is very vital to the future of the district, especially with the new changes to the state funding formula that fail to keep up with inflation,” she said. “It allows the district to maintain student programming as it funds daily operations and utilities.”

SEBRING SCHOOLS

Sebring is the second school renewal that will be on the May 5 ballot. Unlike Boardman, the Sebring vote will be for a 0.75% income tax to be used for operating expenses.

According to Sebring Schools Treasurer/CFO Dawn Welsch, the income tax levy was first passed in 2007 and has been renewed every five years since, but there will be one change for 2026.

“The Sebring Local School District Board of Education made the decision to decrease the renewal amount from 1% to 0.75%,” Welsch said. “This decrease will save our taxpayers money. For example, a person who earns $40,000 per year currently has to pay $400 in income tax annually. If passed, under the renewed levy, a person earning $40,000 per year would have to pay $300 in income tax annually. This example would save the taxpayer $100 per year.”

She said the income tax renewal is vital to the daily operations of the district. The money is spent on the following items: Utilities, including gas, electricity, telephone, water and garbage services; maintenance and repair services; instructional supplies and materials; and transportation supplies and services, including tires, diesel fuel, gasoline and preventative maintenance.

“The purpose of this renewal is to maintain our current level of operations,” Welsch said. “The money is not spent on salaries and/or fringe benefits to employees.”

STRUTHERS SCHOOLS

Struthers is another school district with a tax renewal on the May 5 ballot. It will be asking for a 6.9-mill, five-year levy renewal that will bring in $962,421 annually. It will cost property owners $144 per $100,000 of valuation.

“The levy was first passed in 2006, and it has been renewed three times (2011, 2016 and 2021),” said Struthers Superintendent Pete Pirone Jr. “This proposed renewal levy would be a continuation of current funding that supports the day-to-day operations of the district. Funds generated through the levy help maintain essential educational services, including classroom instruction, student programs, transportation, technology, building maintenance, safety initiatives, and staffing needs. The renewal would ensure the district can continue providing high-quality educational opportunities while maintaining stable financial operations.”

OTHER LEVIES

Austintown voters will face two 1.5-mill renewal levies. The first 1.5-mill, five-year renewal levy will bring in $426,671 and will cost $12 per $100,000 valuation. The second 1.5-mill, five-year renewal levy will bring in $661,077 and will cost $21 per $100,000 valuation.

According to the ballot language, the first renewal levy is listed for general construction, reconstruction, repair and resurfacing of streets, roads and bridges, while the second renewal levy is listed for resurfacing and repair of roads only.

Green Township will have a 1.5-mill, five-year renewal levy for current expenses to raise $136,584 annually. It will cost $35 per $100,000 of valuation, according to the Mahoning County Auditor’s office.

Lowellville Village will have a 4.5-mill, five-year renewal levy for operating expenses to raise $103,638 annually. That one will cost $35 per $100,000 valuation.

Early voting in the spring primary continues at the Mahoning County Board of Elections in Oakhill Renaissance Place this week Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.