Trustees react to Youngstown tax plan

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Trustees voted to place a police levy on the November ballot.

By JEANNE STARMACK

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

AUSTINTOWN — A-B-C City doesn't exist yet, but township trustees say they're prepared to push things that far if Youngstown threatens annexation over its plan to get income taxes from workers in the suburbs.

"The city of A-B-C — Austintown-Boardman-Canfield — sounds pretty good," said Trustee David Ditzler at the trustees meeting Monday.

Trustees Lisa Oles and Warren "Bo" Pritchard agreed they would not let Youngstown's mayor threaten annexation as a way to force joint economic development districts and collect income taxes from workers in the districts.

Ruling

An Ohio Supreme Court decision in March appears to allow cities to annex properties outside its borders that receive its water.

The city recently approved a $100,000 study, to take three months, to analyze its water operations and identify prime JEDD spots in Austintown and the other suburbs that use its water.

Ditzler said JEDDs can benefit the township, city and landowners. Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams' idea also involves a possible reduction in the surcharge on water users outside the city, and Ditzler has said that landowners in a JEDD can benefit from increased property values.

He said Monday, though, that if the real intent is annexation, "We'll absolutely fight."

Concern

Oles said she is also worried that annexation might be the city's true intent.

She said statements she's heard from Williams' "inner circle" lead her to believe that might be the case. "I hope I'm wrong."

"Shared income tax or lowering our water surcharge could be good for us if that's Youngstown's true intent," she said. "But imposing an income tax on Austintown businesses — that's where the battle lines are drawn."

Oles said the township will not sit back "like lame ducks" during the city's three-month study.

Options being considered, she said, include the township's becoming a city.

She also said the idea of buying water from another source is being explored.

Pritchard said he does not believe that Austintown landowners will subject their properties to JEDDs because of annexation threats.

Levy

At the meeting, trustees also voted to place a 3.2-mill police levy on the November ballot.

The levy would generate $815,000 more a year for police cars, computers and other equipment, and also for salaries.

As a replacement levy formed from two previous levies of 1.8 and 1.4 mills, it would mean more taxes for residents.

It will restore the millage to the amount that had been collected before growth drove it down.

Under Ohio law, the township never collects more money than the original millage allows.

As more people and businesses move in, taxpayers pay less as more share in the tax burden.

Trustees will also ask voters to approve letting the township find a lower bulk rate for natural gas for all residents.

If residents don't agree with the township's choice of suppliers, they can opt out of the program.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006