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Few local issues on May primary ballot

YOUNGSTOWN — Few local issues are on the May primary ballot.

Mahoning County residents will see a renewal for the tuberculosis clinic, while Smith Township residents are being asked for additional money for general operations. Western Reserve School District residents are being asked to renew a general operations levy, as well.

Smith Township

Township trustees are asking residents (excluding Beloit) to approve a 2-mill, five-year levy that will generate $135,520 annually.

The levy will cost homeowners 20 cents per thousand dollars of taxable valuation; those with a $100,00 home would pay $200 per year.

According to trustee Chair Dave Mannion, the funds generated by the levy can be used for most township expenses and is critical to continuing government services.

“Smith Township government not only provides for zoning, police and fire protection, but also provides residents with township road maintenance, cemetery management, recycling services and park maintenance,” Mannion explained.

With the loss of landfill revenues and decreased local government, commercial activity and public utility taxes, the township’s revenues have fallen over $300,000 since 2010, Mannion said.

“This levy will replace approximately one third of those revenues, and along with cost reductions that have been put in place, will allow us to continue to operate well into the future,” he said.

Mannion said this is the first time the trustees have asked for a general fund levy, but is necessary.

“Between state funding cuts and the loss of the landfill revenues, it is the only responsible course of action and necessary to continuing these basic local government functions,” he explained.

Issue 2

Mahoning County residents will see Issue 2 on the ballot asking for the renewal of funds for the purpose of care, treatment and maintenance of residents who suffer from tuberculosis and related diseases. The levy is. 1 mill for five years and generates approximately $180,000 per year. The cost to the owner of a $100,000 home is $1.34 per year.

According to Health Commissioner Patricia Sweeney, the funds generated by the county Tuberculosis control levy are used exclusively for Tuberculosis control. The Mahoning County District Board of Health operates the county’s Tuberculosis clinic at 50 Westchester Dr., Youngstown, which conducts tuberculosis testing, provides patient and community education, conducts tuberculosis disease surveillance, tuberculosis case finding and contact tracing and provides no cost treatment for Active and Latent Tuberculosis infections. She said the clinic each year administers 1,000 to 2,000 tuberculosis tests and provides treatment to between two and 50 individuals with active or latent tuberculosis infections.

Sweeney cited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in noting if the disease is not treated properly can be fatal. She said the center reported 2.9 cases of TB for every 100,000 people in the U.S. In 2017. During 2016 and 2017, Mahoning County treated individuals with Latent TB Infections and Active TB Disease, she said.

Information about the prevalence, types and dangers of TB can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/tb/, according to Sweeney. The Board of Health, however, is not permitted to use county funds to promote the levy and can only educate people about what it is. A Citizens Committee to Eliminate TB exists to promote the levy.

Western Reserve Local Schools

The Western Reserve Local School District is seeking renewal of a 4.1-mill, 10-year levy that will generate $4250,00 annually. The levy has cost the homeowner of a $100,000 home $125.56 a year over the past 10 years and will not increase with the renewal.

Originally passed in 2009, the levy expires in 2019, but the school board elected to place it on the ballot early. The millage has dropped from 4.9 mills to the current 4.1 mills due to reevaluation and new construction in the district, according to schools Superintendent Doug McGlynn.

With the 10-year extension, the district will have financial stability and voters will have a longer period period between levies, McGlynn noted.

“This also allows the community to budget without worrying about increased tax rates occurring over the next 10 years,” he explained.

The monies from the levy are used for the daily operation of the district, such as transportation, curriculum, safety and security measures and salaries for employees, McGlynn said.

“This renewal will allow us to continue to have a positive cash balance and provide our community with an outstanding educational environment for our students,” he said. “Without these funds the Western Reserve schools would be forced to reduce the opportunities available to our students and community.

“Our community values the solid co-curricular programs that we provide our students while getting them prepared for life after high school.”

Liquor options

— Beaver Township (Columbiana), Belleria, 258 state Route 14, sales of beer and liquor and Sunday sales of beer and liquor.

— Sebring, Brick House Bar & Grill, 206 E. Ohio Ave., Sunday sales of beer and liquor

— Sebring, Pragi LLC (Sebring Quik Mart/Marathon), Sunday sales of beer and liquor

khowell@salemnews.net

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