Mahoning Valley voters focusing on local tax issues this fall may well be surprised by what they do not see on their general election ballots: a multitude of appeals from local governments and school districts pleading for increased operating revenue.

In Mahoning County, for example, only 21 tax issues confront voters this fall. That’s a far cry from the 37 they faced in the 2015 general election. Of those new levies this year, only four local governments — Austintown, Jackson, Springfield and Washingtonville – seek additional property tax revenue. Not one single school district in the county is requesting new funding from voters. The vast majority are renewals of existing tax rates.

Even fewer additional tax levies appear on Trumbull County ballots. Of 20 tax questions countywide, a mere three — in Cortland, Vernon and Farmington – are additional or replacement levies that would generate more tax dollars.

Statewide, the shrinkage in tax appeals plays out as well. In this year’s primary election, for example, only 96 school tax issues appeared on Ohio ballots, compared with 142 in November 2024, according to the Ohio Education Policy Institute.

The relative scarcity of such issues this election cycle continues a pleasing trend in our region and state of fewer and fewer city councils, township trustee boards and public school boards seeking ballot access to ask their benefactors to open their wallets just a little bit wider for a bigger slice of the property tax or income tax pie.

It also comes at a time when more and more tax levies do not gain automatic, no-questions-asked approval from a complacent electorate. Many have been deep-sixed by skeptical voters.

For example, in the November 2024 elections in Ohio, only 51% of all school tax levies won voter approval, according to the Ohio School Boards Association. Of that total, 75% of requests by school boards for additional levies failed, as well as 30% of renewal issues.

It appears then as if many school districts and local governments have gotten the message that taxpayers are holding public officials increasingly more accountable to run a tight financial ship, and many of those officials are responding by working more carefully to live within their means before launching campaigns for more local revenue.

But when they do — and oftentimes valid arguments can be made for additional revenue based on local circumstances — they must make their case clearly, concretely and transparently to voters. Voters, in turn, should make judgments of support or rejection fairly and responsibly as well.

This year the task for public bodies to justify any-sized raise from taxpayers has grown all the more difficult considering that property values for many landowners have gone up markedly in the newest round of revaluations throughout the Valley. Furthermore, talk of abolishing all property taxes in Ohio in a statewide referendum next year is gathering increasing thunder.

Clearly, responsible voters will have their work cut out for them in weighing the pros and cons of the impact of levy passage on their pocketbooks and their community’s or school district’s quality. Among the more prominent issues on Mahoning County ballots this fall include those in:

● AUSTINTOWN: A 2.22-mill, 5-year additional levy for police services to raise $2.09 million annually as well as two school levies, a .4.9-mill 5-year renewal and a 7.3-mill 5-year renewal to continue to collect a total of about $5.4 million annually for operating expenses.

● BOARDMAN SCHOOLS: A 6-mill 5-year renewal levy to continue to collect $3.6 million annually for operating expenses and a 5.9-mill continuing renewal levy to raise $4.2 million annually.

● JACKSON TOWNSHIP: A 4.9-mill additional continuing levy for fire department services to raise about $726,000 annually.

● SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP: A 3.5-mill additional continuing levy for the fire department to raise about $852,000 annually.

In many respects, the passage or failure of these and other issues will have more direct and immediate impact on local residents’ lives than the results of those decisions in even-numbered election years in which state and federal candidates draw a much more robust voter turnout.

Issues that may well define the future trajectory of a community or school district clearly deserve as much or more thoughtful consideration as decisions on who will occupy the governor’s mansion, the U.S. House chamber or even the White House.

That’s why we strongly urge eligible voters throughout the Valley to carve out sufficient time to study the levy requests fully, carefully and objectively before visiting their board of elections to vote early or their poll site to vote on Nov. 4. Those sponsoring the tax initiatives are obliged as well to be transparent, accurate and accountable in explaining the perceived need for the levies.

Only when fully informed can voters cast aside knee-jerk reactions and make wise and responsible decisions that may very well impact the future livelihoods of their communities and school systems.