PAINESVILLE, Ohio — Just two weeks after voting to approve a county-wide 0.5% sales tax increase, the three-member Lake County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted on Thursday to rescind it.
The all-Republican body chose to drop the tax hike before it even went into effect following complaints from residents and even municipal governments within the county. The proposal originally came about late last month following multiple public hearings, with officials concluding that "the current and projected revenues in of Lake County will be insufficient by a substantial amount to fund the current budgets and statutory responsibilities."
During public debate on the issue, much of the remarks centered around needed to properly fund public safety agencies and the county prosecutor's office, with critics contending this could still be accomplished without raising taxes. Following Thursday morning's reversal, the board released a statement saying it "remains unified in providing professional and high-level services to our residents and businesses; most important of which is our criminal justice and public safety system."
Watch the debate before the original resolution was passed back on Jan. 12:
Commissioner Richard J. Regovich, one of two members of the board who originally voted for the increase, added:
"I have spent the past two weeks listening to the residents of Lake County, many of whom support the measure and others who are unsure. I feel strongly that we owe it to all residents to give this important matter serious deliberation. Please understand my commitment is still to support public safety. It is my commitment to the voters. I am eager to start working immediately with my fellow commissioners and staff."
Criticism of the rate hike followed soon after the initial 2-1 vote. In particular, Mentor City Council passed its own resolution calling on commissioners to remove the increase, saying it would hurt Mentor's status as a retail hub and make Lake County's overall sales tax rate of 7.75% higher than all but two counties in the state of Ohio.
Larger economic factors also played a role.
"Let's be clear that this is exactly the wrong time," Council President Matthew E. Donovan said at the time. "Families throughout Lake County are suffering from the highest inflation we've seen in decades. Do we really want to place an additional half-percent on goods and services that they are already struggling to afford?"
Commissioner John Plecnik, the only board member against the tax increase from the start, echoed those sentiments today, adding he understands the decision to keep the current rate at 7.7% is "difficult" but in his mind "the right decision for Lake County."
"You can call me Commissioner No, because I am proud to have voted no on the biggest tax increase in Lake County history," Plecnik wrote. "Seniors are literally being taxed out of their homes. Families are struggling to put food on the table."
The county will now have to find other ways to balance its checkbook. At this time, leaders have not yet indicated how that might happen.
"I would ask that the public pay close attention to the upcoming budget hearings in February," Board of Commissioners President John R. Hamercheck said Tuesday.