Mahoning & Trumbull County - Boardman Township trustees and Howland administrators dislike property taxes, just like many homeowners.

However, rather than advocating for their elimination, they are urging state lawmakers to reform the tax system and explore alternative funding methods to support local governments.

"The state has in excess of $5 billion in their rainy day fund. Maybe they don't need to keep contributing to the rainy day fund and allow some of those dollars to come back into the communities, to make it easier on the communities and the homeowners to survive." Boardman Township Trustee, Tom Costello, said.

Costello said townships cannot collect income tax, so if property taxes were abolished, the state would have to consider increasing sales tax, or townships would never be able to make ends meet.
 
Boardman Township's budget in 2024 was $24 million. Of that amount, $16 million came from property taxes. Costello told 21 News that without these taxes, the township would be out of business.
 
Howland leaders echoed Costello's sentiment. If property taxes are eliminated, the township would lose roughly half a million dollars. 
 
Plus, without a change, voters become less likely to support levies. The results could leave them unable to scrape by.
 
"That could be catastrophic for townships that rely solely on property taxes to fund paving programs. If you have levies for your police, your fire." James T. Pantalone, Howland Township administrator, said. 
 
Boardman Township trustees plan to meet with State Senator Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) and State Representative Tex Fischer (R-Boardman) sometime in August to discuss the matter.