The May 5 primary ballot has nothing but renewal tax levies for Mahoning County voters.

Schools, townships and villages will have renewals before their voters, and everyone will decide on a county sales tax renewal.

The Mahoning County sales tax renewal is for a 0.25%, five-year sales and use tax specifically for roads and bridges. The tax brings in approximately $10 million annually that is divided three ways — $4 million is used for regular county paving projects, another $4 million is split among the townships based on need and the remaining $2 million is used for bridge repairs.

Mahoning County Engineer Pat Ginnetti said it was first passed in November 2021 as a quarter percent additional sales tax and took effect in 2022. It expires in 2027, but Ginnetti feels it is important to pass it now.

“If we can pass this now, there will not be a break in the service,” he said.

During a visit to Canfield Township earlier this year, Ginnetti said highway paving and construction costs have increased 278% over the past five years, and it can put a serious strain on a budget. The sales tax has helped in having more roads resurfaced and repaired.

SEBRING SCHOOLS

Sebring is the second school renewal that will be on the May 5 ballot. Unlike Boardman, the Sebring vote will be for a 0.75% income tax to be used for operating expenses.

According to Sebring Schools Treasurer/CFO Dawn Welsch, the income tax levy was first passed in 2007 and has been renewed every five years since, but there will be one change for 2026.

“The Sebring Local School District Board of Education made the decision to decrease the renewal amount from 1% to 0.75%,” Welsch said. “This decrease will save our taxpayers money. For example, a person who earns $40,000 per year currently has to pay $400 in income tax annually. If passed, under the renewed levy, a person earning $40,000 per year would have to pay $300 in income tax annually. This example would save the taxpayer $100 per year.”

She said the income tax renewal is vital to the daily operations of the district. The money is spent on the followinEarly voting in the spring primary continues at the Mahoning County Board of Elections in Oakhill Renaissance Place this week Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.g items: Utilities, including gas, electricity, telephone, water and garbage services; maintenance and repair services; instructional supplies and materials; and transportation supplies and services, including tires, diesel fuel, gasoline and preventative maintenance.

“The purpose of this renewal is to maintain our current level of operations,” Welsch said. “The money is not spent on salaries and/or fringe benefits to employees.”

OTHER LEVIES

Green Township will have a 1.5-mill, five-year renewal levy for current expenses to raise $136,584 annually. It will cost $35 per $100,000 of valuation, according to the Mahoning County Auditor’s office.

Early voting in the spring primary continues at the Mahoning County Board of Elections in Oakhill Renaissance Place this week Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.