Hancock County raises sales tax

7/24/2008

FINDLAY In a unanimous vote Thursday, Hancock County commissioners agreed to impose a 0.75 percent increase in the county s sales tax for 22 years.

The vote followed two public hearings on the proposal, which is intended to help pay for the local share of flood mitigation costs, for county operations, and for a new county justice center to house the courts and related offices.

If there is not a referendum petition circulated to reverse the board s decision, the tax would begin to be collected Oct. 1.

Hancock County and Stark County are the only two counties in Ohio to have a 6.0 percent sales tax rate the lowest in the state. The state receives 5.5 percent of the tax revenues, while the county currently collects 0.5 percent.