YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Mahoning County commissioners are asking voters to pass a sales tax this fall that they  say will be earmarked for the criminal justice system.

Commissioners voted on Wednesday to place on the ballot a half percent renewal and quarter percent increase.

They say the issues are being combined to fund only the sheriff's department, the prosecutor's office, the coroner and the 9-1-1 system.

The sales tax would not be permanent, but would come up for a renewal vote every five years.

"Without this tax, the sheriff's department becomes decimated. You really put the county into a sequester. It would be hard to survive with a budget that's going to lose $24 million." said commissioner David Ditzler.

Commissioners say this is the first time the county has ever earmarked a sales tax for a specific use like the criminal justice system.