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LISBON -- Columbiana County commissioners agreed unanimously Tuesday to seek the reallocation of 0.2 mills of inside or unvoted tax millage from debt service to the county general fund.
The 0.2 mills designated for debt service is the only source of property tax the county commissioners receive. According to the resolution passed, the inside millage is no longer necessary for debt service to meet the current debt service obligations, so the board is requesting the county Budget Commission to reallocate the fund to the general fund for general operating expenses starting next year.
"There could be future debt to pay, so we don't want to eliminate it," county Auditor Nancy Gause Milliken said when contacted Wednesday.
In the first half tax collection for 2026, the 0.2 mills generated approximately $291,359. The second half collection amount for 2026 still wasn't known considering the second half bills weren't due until Oct. 2. The amount generated from the second half tax collection last year totaled approximately $193,400. Combined that's a little less than $500,000.
Milliken explained that the county commissioners only have two debts for debt service: the Government Services Building construction and the Municipal Court/Title building construction. She said the municipal court/title building debt payment is paid by the Clerk of Courts while the payment for the Government Services Building comes from rent from some of the tenants, such as the county Department of Job and Family Services, Veterans Service Commission and the OSU Extension Service/4-H.
Milliken said the money won't be needed to pay debts because those debts are being paid by other sources.
She did say the move can be reversed if necessary, if by chance commissioners do a project requiring debt service.
Commissioners previously collected 2.2 mills of inside millage, but gave up 2 mills many years ago in a deal with taxpayers to get the sales tax passed, leaving just the 0.2 mills. Inside millage is unvoted millage.
Milliken said she's been talking about moving the 0.2 mills out of debt service and into the general fund for some time. She's on the county Budget Commission, along with Treasurer Bryan Blakeman and Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino.
In other business, commissioners authorized Milliken to continue contracting with the Stark County Auditor to perform weights and measures inspections in Columbiana County. Columbiana County will pay Stark County $38,500 per year, with half of the balance due Feb. 28 and then the balance due Oct. 31. The effective date of the agreement is Jan. 1, 2027 until Dec. 31, 2028.
"That's been working out great, saves the county money on personnel," Milliken said.
The agreement has been in place for several years. She said, though, that residents and businesses can still call her office in Lisbon regarding any questions about weights and measures, which involve inspecting gas tanks at gas stations and weight scales used in stores for produce and other items.
In other matters, the commissioners approved permits for Charter/Spectrum to install fiber optic lines within the public right of way on sections of Depot Road in Hanover Township, Gavers Road in Hanover Township, Rochester Road in Knox Township and Buckeye Road in Madison Township.
Under the county Department of Job and Family Services, commissioners approved the hiring of Emily Osberg of Salem as an Eligibility Referral Specialist in the public assistance division.
The next meeting of county commissioners will be 9 a.m. Nov. 18. Commissioners won't be holding a meeting next week since their meeting day falls on Veterans Day and the courthouse will be closed, along with other county offices.