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Mahoning County voters will consider more than a dozen issues in the Nov. 3 general election.
Wednesday was the filing deadline for the fall ballot, and a list provided by the Mahoning County Board of Elections shows four additional levies, 12 renewals and eight liquor permit requests.
County-wide voters will decide on a 2.4-mill, five-year additional levy for the Board of Developmental Disabilities. That measure would collect $15,522,964 annually and cost $84 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home.
MCBDD has not requested new money since 2000, but MCBDD Superintendent Bill Whitacre said the state's demand for local Medicaid waiver reimbursement increased by 38% in 2023. That means Mahoning County's required local match increased from about $9 million to nearly $17 million annually. The budget reduction could leave the board financially insolvent in as little as two years.
Whitacre said the cost of providing all MCBDD's services has increased from roughly $60 million annually to nearly $100 million.
He said MCBDD deficit-spent $5.8 million last year and is projecting more than a $6 million deficit this year. Without new revenue, the agency could require tax advances from Meacham's office by 2028-29 and eventually be forced to reduce staff and services, though Whitacre said the board could never cut enough to make up for the gap.
OTHER ADDITIONAL LEVIES
In Boardman, voters will be asked for a 2.75-mill additional levy for safety services.
Fiscal Officer Brad Calhoun said last month that Boardman's appropriations will steadily begin to outpace its revenues by nearly in 2027 and by as much as $8.86 million in 2031.
Boardman has not obtained additional funding since 2011. The township tried for a 4.5-mill fire department levy in 2024 to generate $6.1 million for EMS services, but that effort failed.
In 2025, the township failed to place a 2.5-mill current expenses levy on the ballot for renewal. Funds for that levy, originally passed in 1995, were collected in tax year 2025, but will not be collected in 2026. County Auditor Ralph Meacham said the levy was worth $1.971 million annually.
Canfield Schools will ask residents to approve a 5.9-mill, five-year additional levy for operating expenses. Last month, Superintendent Joe Knoll said the district saved $3.5 million from 2020 to 2025 by eliminating 12 employees through attrition and having five accepting retire/rehire deals. But without new money, Knoll said Canfield may have to cut 40 to 50 employees and reduce class sizes.
He said the Mahoning County Commissioners passage of an additional 2.5% owner occupied tax credit, which will not be reimbursed by the state, will cost Canfield $380,000 a year.
Canfield ended last school year with a $1.25 million spending deficit and Knoll said the district expects a $2.5 million deficit this year.
West Branch Schools will ask for a 1-mill, five-year additional levy for permanent improvements. The levy would generate between $440,000 and $441,000 per year and cost homeowners $35 per $100,000.
Permanent improvement funds may only be used for projects such as building repairs and cannot be used for day-to-day operating costs or employee salaries.
Superintendent Matthew Manley said in June that the district no longer has the 0.5-mill permanent improvement fund included in the bond that was used to build the current facilities 25 years ago. That money was being used to maintain the facilities until West Branch paid off the bond.
Manley said the district hopes to use the money for several projects, including energy conservation efforts and roof improvements at Knox Preschool.
RENEWALS
Austintown Township is asking voters to renew two existing levies: A 0.8-mill, five-year renewal levy for parks that generates $321,610 annually and costs $10 per $100,000, and a 0.5-mill, five-year renewal for the senior center that generates $327,568 a year and costs $11 per $100,000.
The City of Canfield will ask for a 3.9-mill, five-year renewal levy for the police department. Originally passed in 2016 and renewed in 2021, the levy generates $812,524 annually and costs $82 per $100,000.
Lowellville Schools will ask voters to renew a 4-mill, five-year levy that collects $224,058 annually and costs $107 per $100,000, for general permanent improvements.
New Middletown will request a renewal of a 1.5-mill, five-year levy that collects $44,786 a year for roads and bridges, and costs $39 per $100,000.
Poland Village hopes to renew a 1-mill, five-year police levy that generates $53,300 annually at a homeowner cost of $23 per $100,000.
Springfield Township also will ask voters to approve two 1.5-mill, five-year renewal levies. The levy for current expenses generates $135,515 a year and costs $15 per $100,000. The levy for fire and EMS collects $179,695 annually and costs $22 per $100,000.
Boardman Schools is seeking renewal of a five-year fixed-sum levy for current expenses, which generates $4,646,975 annually. District Treasurer A.J. Ginnetti is on vacation this week, but spokesperson Amy Radinovic said there is no millage value assigned to the levy, and it is unclear what the cost per $100,000 would be. Radinovic said the levy, if passed, will not be collected until calendar year 2028.
Poland Schools will ask for two renewals -- a 3.57-mill levy, five-year levy for emergency requirements, which generates $2,181,867 annually and costs $125 per $100,000, and a 1-mill, five-year levy for permanent improvements, that collects $403,667 per year and costs $22 per $100,000.
LIQUOR OPTIONS
In Boardman, Three Brothers Market - Indian Grocery and Sweet Shop, 6607 Market St., is requesting a Monday through Saturday liquor license. Rulli Brothers at 8025 South Ave. is requesting a Sunday permit. The store owners recently decided to be open on Sundays for the first time in its history "to keep up with shoppers' habits." Tobacco City at 112 Boardman-Poland Road is requesting Monday-Saturday and Sunday permits. Millionaire Express at 5955 South Ave. is requesting a Sunday permit.
In Youngstown, Gateway Gas Mart at 2732 Glenwood Ave is requesting both a Monday through Saturday permit and a Sunday permit, while Lorenzino's Bocce Club at 128 Jacobs Road is requesting a Sunday permit.
In Austintown, Rulli Brothers at 431 Kirk Road also is requesting a Sunday permit.
Ballot issues
Levies that will appear on the November ballot, the millage, how much it will cost per $100,000 of property valuation and length.
MAHONING COUNTY BOARD OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES: Additional. Will collect $15,522,964 at 2.4 mills, $84 annually for five years.
AUSTINTOWN PARK LEVY: Renewal. Will collect $321,610 at 0.8 mill, $10 annually for five years.
AUSTINTOWN SENIOR LEVY: Renewal. Will collect $327,568 at 0.5 mill, $11 annually for five years.
BOARDMAN TOWNSHIP SAFETY SERVICES LEVY: Additional. Will collect $3,772,795 at 2.75 mills, $96 annually for five years.
CANFIELD POLICE LEVY: Renewal. Will collect $812,524 at 3.9 mills, $82 annually for five years.
NEW MIDDLETOWN ROAD AND BRIDGE LEVY: Renewal. Will collect $44,786 at 1.5 mills, $39 annually for five years.
POLAND VILLAGE POLICE LEVY: Renewal. Will collect $53,300 at 1 mill, $23 annually for five years.
POLAND TOWNSHIP ROAD LEVY: Renewal. Will collect $227,666 at 2 mills, $13 annually for five years.
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP FIRE LEVY: Renewal. Will collect $179,695 at 1.5 mills, $22 annually for five years.
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP CURRENT EXPENSES LEVY: Renewal. Will collect $135,515 at 1.5 mills, $15 annually for five years.
BOARDMAN LOCAL SCHOOLS LEVY: Fixed-Sum Renewal. Will collect $4,646,975 for current expenses for five years.
CANFIELD LOCAL SCHOOLS LEVY: Additional. Will collect $5,715,791 at 5.9 mills for current expenses, $207 annually for five years.
LOWELLVILLE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT: Renewal. Will collect $224,058 at 4 mills for operating costs, $107 annually for five years.
POLAND LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT: Renewal. Will collect $2,181,867 at 3.57 mills for emergency requirements, $125 annually for five years.
POLAND LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT: Renewal. Will collect $403,667 at 1 mill for permanent improvements, $22 annually for five years.
WEST BRANCH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT: Additional. Will collect $441,471 at 1 mill for permanent improvements, $35 annually for five years.
LIQUOR OPTIONS
YOUNGSTOWN: Precinct 2-D, Sunday sales, Lorenzino's Bocce Club, LLC, 128 Jacobs Road.
YOUNGSTOWN: Precinct 6-H, Weekly beer, wine and mixed beverages, Gateway Gas Mart, 2732 Glenwood Ave.
YOUNGSTOWN: Precinct 6-H, Sunday wine and mixed beverages, Gateway Gas Mart, 2732 Glenwood Ave.
AUSTINTOWN: Precinct 17, Sunday sales, Rulli Brothers, 431 Kirk Road
BOARDMAN: Precinct 25, Sunday sales, Rulli Brothers, 8025 South Ave.
BOARDMAN: Precinct 9, weekly and Sunday sales, Tobacco City LLC, 112 Boardman Poland Road.
BOARDMAN: Precinct 9, weekly and Sunday sales, Singh & 3 Brothers, 6607 Market St.
BOARDMAN: Precinct 15, Sunday sales, Millionaire Express, 5955 South Ave.