Third public hearing held on proposed sales tax increase for Sheriff's Office

ELYRIA — For the third time in a little more than a month, the public had a chance Tuesday to hear the Lorain County Sheriff's Office make its case for a 0.25-percent sales tax increase to help fund its daily operations. The Sheriff's Office and Board of Commissioners, which is considering putting the sales tax measure on the November ballot, said the tax would raise approximately $13.7 million toward the office's estimated $34 million budget in 2026. The county also is looking at a projected $5 million spending deficit in its 2026 budget. Commissioner David Moore, a Republican, said Tuesday that budget cuts are coming in 12 areas and that the board will be reining in any excessive spending. The Sheriff's Office has been pinching every penny, officials there have told commissioners over the past month-plus. During a 40-minute hearing Tuesday, the county commissioners played a 20-minute recording of the first hearing they held back on June 17 where Sheriff Jack Hall and his command staff described their needs for 2026. That video can be found on the "Lorain County Commissioners" YouTube page. If placed on the ballot and approved by voters in November, the tax increase would go into effect April 1. Consumers in Lorain County pay 6.5 percent sales tax on eligible purchases, tied with three other counties for the lowest sales tax rate in the state. A "yes" vote would raise the countywide sales tax to 6.75 percent, equal to 6.75 cents per dollar on eligible purchases. Eighty-four other Ohio counties have a higher sales tax. "I think that looking at next year's forecast as commissioners you have already shown that you're looking at the long term, so I think that it's a smart investment," Chief Deputy Tanya Czack, Hall's second-in-command, told the board on Tuesday. "I think that the sheriff has been more than willing to sit down and have a discussion with anyone in the public." She said she also is willing to go over her budget numbers, having shared those with the board to show where cuts are being made and spending is being scrutinized. Speaking at Tuesday's public hearing, Philip Benko of Elyria said he appreciated that the Sheriff's Office "probably really needs the money," but property taxes have gone "way up." "Everything has increased dramatically, and being a senior citizen and living on Social Security alone, even a quarter on a hundred dollars does mean a lot of difference from us," the 75-year-old told the board. Benko said as an Elyria resident, he already pays for city police protection and would be paying more on top of that to support the Sheriff's Office. "You shouldn't be so quick to go ahead and pass this measure. There's a lot of people in our situations who need extra money," Benko said. Gerald Phillips of Avon Lake said the proposed tax wouldn't be too much of a burden. "As long as the money is going to be used what it's for, and Mr. Hall is fiscally responsible, I have no problem supporting it," he said. The Sheriff's Office operates the Lorain County Jail, patrols county and township roads and provides security at the Lorain County Justice Center and County Administration Building in downtown Elyria, among other responsibilities. More than half of its budget comes from the county general fund. Another $13-14 million for county jail operations comes from a 0.25 percent sales tax collected since 1994. The county's final 2026 budget has yet to be worked out, but its temporary, unofficial tax budget for the coming year is $86.7 million.Commissioners first proposed the tax in early June and voted to hold two public hearings that month. Turnout was low for the two subsequent public hearings, June 17 and June 20.Commissioners said they planned to vote July 1 on whether to put the sales tax increase on the November ballot.Instead, on July 1, they passed an updated resolution at the urging of their legal counsel to ensure that the language was clear: That proceeds from the sales tax go to the Sheriff's Office specifically, not law enforcement in general. The next hearing on the proposed sales tax is set for 9:30 a.m. Friday. It will be held in the fourth floor meeting room at the County Administration Building, 226 Middle Ave. in Elyria. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.