DEAR EDITOR:

Last weekend The Vindicator described the petition to be circulated by the Citizens for Property Tax Reform as “extremist.”

Other matters that I would consider extremist is when, in 2024, Mahoning County’s total property value went from $5.36 billion in 2020 to $7.22 billion and being told ad nauseam that even if your property assessment does increase, it doesn’t mean your taxes will rise; or being told there will be no additional tax if you vote for the passage of a peculiar levy and a year later you get billed for more money due to its passage.

Extremism is an increased property tax burden for the 82% that actually pay their property taxes in Mahoning County while government entities receive additional monies without the property owners’ vote. To be sure, while US democracy ostensibly consists of “rule by the people” and all that good stuff, the system thwarts any approximation of actual popular control over anything.

Extremism is paying the Deputy Clerk of Courts $156,000 per year absent a job performance review when her predecessor received approximately $66,000 less after decades of meritable service. This is after the new Clerk of Courts campaigned with a claim of dedication to serving the community with integrity, fiscal responsibility and accountability.

Extremism is the aforementioned person(s) alleging that in November of 2023, “during the election process, numerous errors, mistakes, irregularities, and fraud occurred,” demeaning the employees at the Board of Elections and offending the electorate.

Maybe such extremist actions such as those listed above require extreme counteraction. Hence, the petition by the Citizens for Property Tax Reform is not surprising.

KIM R. KOTHEIMER

Poland