LEETONIA– Leetonia voters denied a proposed 0.5% increase in village income tax for safety forces and the village general fund in Tuesday’s Primary Election.

According to final but unofficial results, the proposed increase failed by a vote of 192 (62.95%) against and 113 (37.05%) in favor.

Leetonia currently collects income tax at a rate of 1.5% which collects approximately $1.1 million annually. If the proposed increase had been approved by voters, that rate would have increased to 2%, which Village Fiscal Officer Nick Mistovich estimated would net the village an additional $400,000 annually.

In addition, the village had promised to suspend its collection of property tax from village residents if voters approved the levy, which Leetonia officials said was intended to reduce the village’s reliance on property taxes amidst ongoing efforts to reduce or abolish property tax in the state. Mistovich explained that approximately 11% of the property tax paid by residents annually goes into Leetonia’s coffers, equating to approximately $140,000 in property tax revenue per year while the remaining property tax collected goes to the Leetonia Exempted Village School District and non-village levies, meaning resident would have seen a corresponding 11% decrease in their property tax bill had the village stopped collecting those funds.

However, with voters denying the income tax increase, both village income and property tax will continue to be collected at the same rate. Mayor Kevin Siembida said that he respected the voters’ decision, and that while funding for safety forces would need to be a consideration going forward, the village was otherwise in a strong financial position. He also noted that if ongoing efforts to place a citizen-led amendment limiting or abolishing property on the ballot in the upcoming General Election in November, he hopes voters “really consider their choice and the impact it could have on police, fire and EMS.”

“We believe in democracy. We put it out to the voters and given the choice between paying income tax or property tax, they voted [income tax] down. I respect that choice and we’ll keep moving forward,” said Siembida.