LISBON - It's a good thing county commissioners placed the sales tax on the ballot a year early given Tuesday's defeat of the measure.

Renewal of the 1 percent county sales tax for another five years was rejected by voters, 62.9 percent to 37.1 percent, in yesterday's election.

The tax actually expires Dec. 31, 2010, but commissioners placed it on the ballot a year early for a couple of reasons, one of which was to give them two more shots at getting it renewed next year before collection ceases.

"It's definitely going to go back on in May. We don't have a choice," said Commissioner Jim Hoppel. The 1 percent tax generates $8 million a year, accounting for 44 percent of county general fund revenue. "You can't make up that kind of money."

Both Hoppel and Commission Chairman Penny Traina believe confusion over the ballot language contributed to the tax's defeat. The recommended ballot language from the Ohio Secretary of State required the tax be referred to as being for "additional" revenue despite it being a renewal, leading some to believe it was a new tax.

"I'm just sick and obviously disappointed ... I think the ballot language could have had a negative effect," Traina said.

"Yes, it was misleading, and we are going to ask the secretary of state that (the ballot language) be changed" so they can use "renewal" or "continuation" the next time, Hoppel said.

Renewal of the sales tax has never been easy, and Traina said the fact voters are feeling the pinch from the recession may have also contributed to the tax's defeat. "I think the economics of our country had something to do with it," she said.

"I think that this board has worked well together and we've been good stewards of the taxpayer's money," she said.

Hoppel pointed out commissioners have lost $1 million in revenue this year due to a decline in sales tax collections and state cuts in county funding, "and we weren't asking for more money. We were making it work."

If voters fail to renew the sales tax next year, commissioners would be free to resume collecting 2-mills in property taxes. In 2000, commissioners agreed to cease collecting the 2 mills in exchange for voter passage of the tax. This would raise property taxes by $61 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home.

The 2 mills would generate only about $3 million a year, which is still far short of the $8 million the 1 percent sales tax generates.

There is also a second county sales tax in the amount of 0.5 percent, which was imposed by commissioners in early 2007 as a permanent measure.