WARREN — The Trumbull County Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday that will reduce the amount of taxes that county property owners will have to pay by 2.5%.

In making the vote, the commissioners acknowledged the decision likely will not be popular with school leaders and other elected officials because it will hurt their financial bottom line because of the reduced amount they will receive.

However, the commissioners said it is time to help residents that feel burdened by escalating property taxes.

Commissioner Denny Malloy noted this decision will not only assist property owners, but also will likely affect renters whose landlords may not be forced to increase what they are charging for their properties.

“This will probably draw more criticism and more praise than anything I’ve been part of in the last three-and-a-half years,” he said. “We are giving back tax money to every homeowner in Trumbull County.”

Malloy noted the state evaluates property values every six years, which generally causes the amount collected in property taxes to increase.

“The only thing county commissioners can do is to increase this by 2.5% or through a homestead exemption for seniors and disabled veterans,” he said. “We chose to do this route first to show some relief to our residents.

“This is something that is cutting our own budget. It is cutting schools and townships. I understand that. But we are living on money, I believe, we never should have had in the first place.”

Malloy argued there are people who are paying more taxes today than what they paid on their mortgages when they purchased their houses in the 1970s and 1980s.

Commissioner Rick Hernandez concurred with Malloy.

“This is something that we are giving back to all residents,” he said. “It is a small portion. It will hurt some schools and some of the townships. It will hurt some of our services.”

Hernandez said they’ve already taken a lot of criticism from superintendents and township trustees.

“We’ve been put in a position that isn’t what we want to be put in,” Hernandez said. “We are giving this money back. This is something we’re going to do. I feel this is the right thing to do for the citizens.”

Commissioner Tony Bernard called Wednesday a good day for Trumbull County residents, especially those on fixed incomes, including senior citizens and veterans.

“This board is trying to help the taxpayers of the county reduce the property values that have increased out of control in the last few years,” Bernard said. “We are going to stay on them to help reduce the unfair increase of property taxes.

“There is another reappraisal expected to come in August. This board feels that there should be a moratorium on that.”

Bernard noted this shows the commissioners are listening to residents’ concerns.

Although this action will, on average, only save property owners a few hundred dollars a year, Malloy said it will send a message to Columbus-based legislators that Trumbull residents are tired of ever-increasing property taxes.