LISBON — Columbiana County Treasurer Bryan Blakeman said he’s going to suggest taxpayers only pay their first half property taxes instead of the whole year when the property taxes come due Feb. 20.

That’s because he’s expecting the property taxes to go down in the second half of the year due to recent state legislation meant to ease the tax burden for some taxpayers.

“This year the bills could change for the better and help taxpayers,” he said.

Blakeman said a lot of people pay for the whole year in the first half and if the bills end up decreasing in the second half, he won’t be able to give refunds. Any money overpaid will appear as a credit for the next year.

The bills for the first half will be put in the mail in mid-January and Blakeman said he plans to include an insert telling taxpayers to only pay for the first half.

He said language for that insert has been approved by the Ohio Tax Commissioner.

Blakeman made the announcement about paying just the first half taxes Wednesday during the county Investment Board meeting, which was held within the county commissioners’ meeting.

In attendance were Blakeman, Clerk of Courts Anthony Dattilio and Commissioners Tim Ginter and Roy Paparodis.

Blakeman shared the quarterly report prepared by Meeder Investment Management Portfolio Manager Jim McCourt, explaining the interest rate for STAR Ohio, which is the liquid account, has decreased from 5% a year ago to 3.91% now.

As of Nov. 30, he said the STAR Ohio account totaled $21,464,368, which is down from the previous quarter. On the reverse side, he explained that the securities portion of the investment portfolio has increased to $121,294,477 due to locking in higher rates before interest rates started to go down.

“We’re on a course that will continue to climb,” he said, with a weighted average yield of 4.06%. He’s expecting $3.95 million in investment interest income for this year and up to $4.5 million next year. The numbers will start to go down in 2027, with $4.1 million expected then.

In other business, commissioners accepted for filing a petition to vacate a 40-foot street known as Sherwood Street in the area of LaCroft in Liverpool Township and set a public hearing at 9:05 a.m. Feb. 4 for the proposed road vacation. Property owner Ryan R. Reed, Eighth Avenue, LaCroft, East Liverpool submitted the petition and map showing that he owns the properties on either side of the unused Sherwood Street and has been caring for the property for years. According to the petition, the street was never opened or improved, is abandoned and not been used for 21 years. Reed has been mowing the grass growing in the unopened street.

Commissioners authorized the county engineer to advertise for bids for a two-lane resurfacing project on Leetonia Road in Center Township, with the bid opening at 9 a.m. Jan. 28. Also for the engineer, commissioners accepted all bids submitted for slag, gravel, crushed limestone, asphalt and ice control materials and gasoline, diesel fuel and kerosene.

In some routine items, commissioners gave permission for the engineer to use county employees and to utilize professional services for maintenance, repairs and construction of roads, bridges and culverts in the county for 2026. The board approved an amendment to the sanitary engineer agreement for county Engineer Bert Dawson to continue to serve as sanitary engineer for the county with a salary of $38,950.

Also approved were cybersecurity policies for the county auditor’s office and for commissioners, and authorizations for county Auditor Nancy Gause Milliken to sign a service agreement with Clark Schaffer Hackett for GAAP financials and a contract with RedHelm for security services.

The next meeting of county commissioners, which will include the reorganizational meeting, will be 9 a.m. Jan. 7 at the downtown courthouse.