County Council considers tax levies for ballot
By Kathleen Folkerth
DOWNTOWN AKRON — Summit County Council at its June 4 meeting took the first steps toward putting two tax levies on the November General Election ballot while also introducing legislation regarding a “sin tax” that could also be before voters.
Legislation was adopted that asks the Summit County Fiscal Office to certify how much money would be generated by two levies, one for Summit County Children Services (SCCS) and the other for the Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADM) Board. The two pieces of legislation are the first step before Council adopts a second piece of legislation for each levy, which would put each request on the ballot.
The ADM Board levy legislation was adopted on first reading without much discussion. According to the legislation, voters will be asked to replace a portion of an existing 3.05-mill levy at a lesser rate of 2.95 mills. The money goes toward mental health and recovery programs for children, adults and families, as well as for the acquisition, construction, renovation, financing, maintenance and operation of ADM Board facilities.
The SCCS levy legislation was
adopted after being recommended by the Committee-of-the-Whole.
That legislation calls for voters to replace a portion
of an existing levy at 2.25 mills to support SCCS and
the care and placement of
children.
Council President Nick Kostandaras
(D-District 1) said he would like to have the second
piece of legislation for each levy adopted in two weeks,
at the June 18 meeting, so that work can proceed on
getting the word out about the levies.
“This is going to take
hard work on everyone’s part,” Kostandaras
said in a follow-up conversation.
Also during the meeting, Council
gave first reading to a resolution that would submit
to voters the question of levying certain excise taxes
to pay for not more than half the costs of a sports
facility and related development on more than 400 acres
in the city of Macedonia and Northfield Center. This
is the second time the idea has come before
Council.
If voters approve the tax, each
gallon of liquor sold would be taxed $3, beer would
be taxed 16 cents per gallon, and wine and mixed drinks
would be taxed 32 cents per gallon. Cigarettes also
would be taxed at the rate of 2.25 mills per cigarette,
which Kostandaras said would equal 4-1/2 cents per pack.
The tax would be effective for
20 years, according to the legislation. Kostandaras
said the tax would generate $100 million during that
period of time.
Kostandaras, in whose district
the project would be situated, said a presentation by
the developers, the Wolstein Sports and Entertainment
Group, will be given to Council’s Committee-of-the-Whole
at its meeting June 11.
He added that he hopes the issue will be voted on at
the July 23 Council meeting.
“It’s a huge project
and a win-win situation,” Kostandaras said.
Also during the meeting, Council
adopted a resolution authorizing a grant with the Victim
Assistance Program for $75,000. According to information
presented by administrators of the program, it served
24,734 people — victims, witnesses, family members,
coworkers and contact people — in 2006.
Monday’s meeting was the
first Council meeting for new Councilman John Schmidt
(D-District 2), who was selected by local Democrats
to fill the seat previously held by Tom Teodosio, who
recently was sworn in as
a Summit County Common Pleas Court judge. Schmidt was
sworn in May 30.
Council also gave two commendations
during its meeting. The first was to Bath resident Bruce
Hunsicker, who founded the One-in-Six Foundation to
raise funds for and awareness of prostate cancer. Hunsicker
founded the organization after he was diagnosed with
prostate cancer in 2004.
“What Bruce has done is
remarkable,” said Councilman Frank Comunale (D-District
4), of West Akron. “He’s done something
positive.”
He added that the foundation’s
Blue Ribbon Ball will take place June 16 at the National
Inventors Hall of Fame. For more information, go to
www.oneinsix.org.
Council also commended Andrea
Wlaszyn, of Summit County Engineer Greg Bachman’s
office, for being named one of the “30 for the
Future” recipients. The Greater Akron Chamber
of Commerce-sponsored award honors young professionals
(ages 25-39) whose contributions impact their industries
and the Greater Akron region.
Summit County Council is scheduled
to meet for committee meetings June 11 at 4:30 p.m.
in Council Chambers on the seventh floor of the Ohio
Building, 175 S. Main St.
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