Voters in Mahoning County soundly rejected the renewal of the half percent county sales tax. This could mean voters will see it again in next year’s primary. The issue appeared in doubt even as absentee ballots were tabulated early in the evening. By the time finals were posted, the spread was 57% against, and only 43% in favor. Mahoning County has two half percent taxes, each raising about 14 million dollars a year. This effort was intended to change the tax from a five year to a continuous period. County officials have dealt with on-again, off-again, revenue as each tax has experienced difficulties in getting renewed.
Complicating this latest renewal effort was controversy over the ballot language. Some said it made the measure appear as a new tax rather than a renewal.
