Commissioners Rescind Tax Imposition

Hancock County commissioners this morning rescinded a July 24 resolution imposing a 0.75 percent sales tax.

They told the county prosecutor to draw up resolutions setting public hearing dates for two new emergency tax measures. The three commissioners will vote on those resolutions this afternoon.

If commissioners decide to pass one or both of the taxes as emergencies, the county would receive the money by mid-April.

Commissioners said they are not certain they want to pass either the 0.25 percent tax or the 0.50 percent tax as emergencies, but to consider the possibility they must identify the measures as such when setting dates for public hearings.

If the either tax is adopted as an emergency, the county can collect money regardless if a petition is filed to put it on the November 2009 ballot. Even if voters turned the tax down, the county could collect for most of 2009.

A petition to put a non-emergency tax on the November 2009 ballot, however, would prevent the county from collecting until voters have had a say.

Without some revenue collection, commissioner Ed Ingold said he is concerned the county will not be able to fully support public safety and welfare. "A portion of this needs to be adopted as an emergency so we can begin collection and stabilize where we are," he said.

County reporter Mary Kate Malone will continue to develop this story for you throughout the day. Count on www.thecourier.com to bring you the news as it happens.

Comments

[city worker]

WHAT HAPPEN THE COUNTY PROSECUTOR HAS NO UNDERSTANDING OF THE RULES.
OF STATE TAX LAWS…….. IN REFERENCE TO THE COUNTY IMPOSING A TAX.
THIS REALLY COST US ,IN TIME ITS CLEAR THAT THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS’ .
ARE NOT PREPARED TO LEAD US THOUGHT ANYTHING
WHAT SCARES US MORE.. IS WHAT WE DON’T KNOW YET… AND WHAT THERE TRYING TO HIDE FROM US NOW .

[city worker]

There no room here for kids toast

[Toast]

James Rouston,

Do you have anything to contribute to the discussion beyond your cutting and pasting skills?

[JAMES S ROUTSON]

Unemployment figures rise 3rd straight monthUnemployment rates increased in July among Hancock County and its neighbors. Hancock County's unemployment rate increased to 6.6 percent from 5.7 percent in June.
It was the third consecutive month the jobless rate increased since April when it was 4.4 percent, the state Department of Job and Family Services reported.
Hancock County's unemployment rate also slipped to 20th lowest out of Ohio's 88 counties. It was ninth lowest in June. Unemployment rates increased in 81 of Ohio's 88 counties in July.
"Ohio's labor market continued to show weakness in July," Job and Family Services Director Helen Jones-Kelley said.
Rates among neighboring counties, with the June rate in parentheses, were as follows: Allen, 8.6 percent (7.3); Hardin, 8.1 percent (7.3); Henry, 8.8 (7.9); Putnam, 6.7 (6.2); Seneca, 8 (6.8); Wood, 8 (6.6); Wyandot, 8.6 (6.8).
The unemployment rate for Hancock and its neighbors combined was 7.9 percent last month, up from 6.7 percent in June. Holmes County, in the central eastern part of the state, had the lowest jobless rate, 5.1 percent. The highest rate last month was in Meigs County, in southeast Ohio, 11 percent.
The statewide jobless rate, which is adjusted for seasonal changes in the labor force, was 7.2 percent in July, up from 6.6 percent in June.

[james Routson]

305.12 Liability of commissioners.
The board of county commissioners may sue and be sued, and plead and be impleaded, in any court. It may bring, maintain, and defend suits involving an injury to any public, state, or county road, bridge, ditch, drain, or watercourse in the county with respect to which the county has the primary responsibility to keep in proper repair, and for the prevention of injury to them. The board shall demand and receive, by suit or otherwise, any real estate or interest in real estate, legal or equitable, belonging to the county, or any money or other property due the county. The money so recovered shall be paid into the county treasury, and the board shall take the county treasurer’s receipt for it and file it with the county auditor.

Effective Date: 11-20-1985

[james Routson]

b 10 lower right corner

[A Citizen]

It is a shame that the public notice that the county kommissar had posted in the C section of today's (08/16/08) paper wasn't even written about in todays paper.
Another action by our local officials done with "emergency rules".....

I guess this republican will be pushing the D button for county kommissar for the next few elections. If I'm going to have a tax and spend person in office, might as well have the real thing instead of a RINO.

[JAMES S ROUTSON]

There's no real study to prove that 25 % percent of sales tax comes from outside Hancock county,,,, just tony ways of doing it ...,
The county should have a income tax earmarked for flood . Those with more pay more. We all pay , across the board
Sales are dropping and are forecasted to drop more in the next three years,,,,,,,,, and guess what no money for flood.
Where's' the city in all of this mess,,,, I for am so dam disappointed in all of the people . And embarrassed of there lack. Of understanding.
Of any laws or procedures' this will be one hell of a fight, there must be a oversight committee for all reasons', and more.