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SALEM -- City council Tuesday night approved an amended resolution declaring a necessity for renewing the park department's recreational levy.
Council unanimously approved two resolutions declaring it necessary to present the renewal of the 1.3-mill levy to voters in Columbiana and Mahoning counties, respectively, in the upcoming general election on Nov. 3.
Council previously approved two similar resolutions declaring it necessary to present voters with the levy's renewal in the July 7 meeting. However, City Auditor Sal Salvino said that the previous resolutions incorrectly listed to levy's millage as 1 instead of 1.3, which was corrected in the new resolutions.
Council will still need to approve another resolution to actually place the renewal on the ballot in an upcoming meeting.
Last approved by voters in 2022, the recreational levy has a period of five years and if renewed by voters would begin with tax year 2027 to be collected in 2028. The levy is estimated to generate $166,794 for the department annually.
As a renewal of an existing tax it would not cost residents any more than they're already paying.
The recreational levy is one of two levies which wholly fund the parks department, as it does not receive direct funding from the city's general fund as a semi-autonomous entity. The other levy is a 1-mill operational levy last renewed by voters in May 2025, which generates approximately $224,000 for the department annually.
Council will meet next at 7 p.m. on Aug. 4.