Columbiana County Board of Elections clerks from left, Chad Bettis, Angelica Scarabino and Deb Blackhurst process materials from the polling places on Election Day. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)

LISBON — Columbiana County voters agreed to renew both the .75-mill levy to support abused, neglected and dependent children and the 1% sales tax that accounts for more than half the general fund which pays for a large portion of county government operations.

“We’re very thankful that the voters in this county saw the need to continue the sales tax,” county Commissioner Mike Halleck, chairman, said Tuesday night.

“They know the majority of these funds go to the criminal justice system. We do have fine-tuning to do in some of those departments and we’re going to continue to be judicious in how we spend the money that the voters have bestowed upon us,” he said.

The vote for the sales tax was quite the turnaround from the last election when voters soundly defeated the renewal, with the ballot language blamed for making voters think it was a new tax. This time there was no doubt that the tax was a renewal, a continuation of an existing tax already being paid.

According to complete, but unofficial results from the county Board of Elections, the sales tax passed with 7,041 yes votes and 4,110 no votes, with 63 percent in favor.

Voters were asked to renew the 1% sales tax for another five years, with the tax representing $14 million of the general fund, the biggest contributor to the general fund and county operations.

The county general fund pays for every office in the courthouse, all the courts, the sheriff’s office, housing of prisoners at the privately-operated county jail, veterans services, the board of elections, the coroner’s office, the probation department, the prosecutor’s office and criminal defense for indigent defendants. The courthouse offices on the first floor include the auditor, treasurer, recorder and commissioners, along with Probate Court.

The chairmen of both the county Democratic and Republican parties went on record in support of the sales tax and both expressed their appreciation for the voters following through.

“I’m very pleased by the results. It appears that members of both parties were in agreement that we need to run our government efficiently but with the proper tools to do it. I personally thank the voters,” county Democratic Party Chairman Charley Kidder said.

“I’m very pleased with the strong showing the county has passed the sales tax. It’s vital to the operations of the county government, especially the criminal justice function of the county. This is a very good thing for the county,” county Republican Party Chairman David Johnson said.

Halleck addressed opposition to the sales tax, saying “unfortunately there is a small group of people that for whatever reason, be it jealousy or trying to even old political scores, will be against anything that we’re for. Fortunately they did not prevail.”

He also added that, “I think people have seen the millions of dollars we have put back into Columbiana County in terms of new infrastructure.”

According to figures from county Auditor Nancy Gause Milliken, the total sales tax income for 2024 totaled $21,423,016, with the 1% sales tax generating $14,281,881 and the .5% permanent sales tax generating $7,141,135.

In 2023, the 1% sales tax generated $14,468,375 and the .5% sales tax generated $7,234,685 for a total of more than $21.7 million.

Besides the sales tax, the general fund revenue includes fees collected by the various offices, including the auditor’s office which collected $1.6 million in fees last year with an estimate of $1 million for this year. Investment interest income totaled $4,448,108 last year, with an estimate of $1 million for this year. The casino tax revenue totaled 1.4 million, with an estimated $1.2 million for this year. Gas royalties totaled just $54,000.

The biggest portion is the sales tax. Property transfers, recording of deeds, sending out of tax bills, vehicle title transfers, issuance of marriage licenses, filing a lawsuit, reporting a crime to the sheriff and prosecuting criminals all affect the public and all depend on the sales tax.

Children services levy

The .75-mill, five-year children’s services levy also passed, with 7,267 yes votes and 3,872 no votes, for 65 percent in favor.

“It was a good day for the children of Columbiana County. This levy is extremely important to us as it helps provide children that can’t remain in their home with their basic needs. I’m proud of Columbiana County and want to thank the residents for coming out and supporting our children,” county Department of Job and Family Services Director Rachel Ketterman said when contacted.

The five-year levy was first approved in 1998 and is expected to generate $1,283,600 per year, as it has been doing. For the owner of a home valued at $100,000, that equates to a cost of $13.21 per year, which the homeowner is already paying. This is not a new tax, but the same tax homeowners have been paying.

The proceeds for the levy cover less than half of the actual cost for room and board for kids in the agency’s care, with the cost in 2024 totaling $3,558,294 for 120 kids, with 65 in care for less than 12 months. During a previous interview about the levy, Ketterman said not one dime goes toward employee salaries and benefits, with 100% going to the children.

The majority of the funding is used to pay the room and board for children in the agency’s temporary custody and those in permanent custody who are up for adoption.

“I made it a priority in promoting a yes vote and made it clear to people it’s just $13-plus per year for the owner of a $100,000 home. How could anyone say no? I’m very pleased that it passed,” Johnson said.

Voter turnout was higher than expected at 17 percent. Board of Elections Director Kim Fusco had predicted a smaller percentage. She said nothing major happened at the polls, with just a couple of places where the ballots were jamming.

mgreier@mojonews.com