Lorain County Sales Tax Increase Up for Vote

What: Issue 22 on the ballot is a proposal by the Lorain County Commissioners to raise the county sales tax from 6.25 to 6.5 percent.

When: Election Day, Nov. 8

About the levy: The increase would expire afer five years. The money would be designated for criminal justice programs in the county.

Without the increase, county commissioner Ted Kalo warned that cuts to services such as the county 4-H program and Lorain County Transit would happen to close the county's budget deficit. Funding for the Lorain County Sheriff's Office would not be cut next year, he said. Residents in Avon and will see the issue on the ballot.

Proposed ballot language: "The Board of County Commissioners of Lorain County proposes an increase in the rate of a sales and use tax in the amount of one-quarter of one percent (1/4%) for the purpose of supporting criminal and administrative justice services in Lorain County for a period of 5 years, beginning April 1, 2012."