As we prepare to pass through the threshold of 2026, thoughts of new beginnings abound. Many will resolve to make positive changes in their lives from shedding unwanted pounds to fattening our bank accounts.

In the real world, however, few fresh starts pass our way. Our lives, our communities, our nation and our world rely heavily on the remnants of the bygone year. In the Mahoning Valley and Ohio, much unfinished business from 2025 must be addressed to move the health of our communities and its residents productively through 2026 and beyond.

High atop that list of unresolved issues in Ohio will be property tax reform. Yes, strides were made in 2025 toward lessening the heavy burden of those skyrocketing bills resulting from eye-bulging increases in valuation. Just this month, Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law a series of reforms that promise to save Ohioans $3 billion over the next three years by capping automatic tax hikes (inside millage) with inflation, giving county budget commissions more control over levies and changing valuation processes to benefit taxpayers.

Much of the success of those initiatives rests on the shoulders of state Rep. David Thomas, R-Jefferson, who represents portions of Trumbull County. He sponsored all five of them and has been the fiercest advocate for reform in the state Legislature.

But Thomas, like many others, tempered such enthusiasm with the realization that such changes will take effect gradually and their impact likely will not silence the cries of those who misguidedly seek to abolish property taxes at the polls next year.

“There is still much more work to go,” Thomas said at the signing ceremony with the governor.

In the new year, then, we look for Thomas to continue to lead the charge for greater relief and heftier long-term solutions to funding schools and services that have been overly reliant on property taxes for decades

Close to home, 2026 promises to be a pivotal year for the future of comprehensive health care in the Mahoning Valley. Insight Hospital and Medical Center Trumbull in Warren has remained closed, or in its terms “on diversion,” since Nov. 26 as the Flint, Michigan-based, hospital system struggles with a litany of inspection failures from the Ohio Department of Health, ranging from heating problems to alleged subpar quality of care.

The longer the future of the county’s only behavioral health hospital remains in limbo, the longer the quality and quantity of essential health care services will be severely compromised. We call on Insight leaders, state health department officials and all public and private advocates for the reopening of that hospital — and of Insight Rehabilitation Hospital in Howland — to make priority No. 1 finding workable solutions to ensure the facilities’ long-term viability.

Of course, not all of the region’s unfinished business of 2025 remains grounded in struggle. 2026 also promises to roll out as a key year for significant progress on one of the largest economic development projects in the region in years: the Kimberly-Clark production campus and its accompanying distribution center in Warren and Howland.

So far, all signs point to continued progress. The Joint Economic Development District among Warren city, Warren Township and Howland has worked cooperatively with the nation’s largest personal-care paper-products manufacturer. If all goes well, construction of the first main building will be complete in the spring, and ads for some of the expected 500 initial jobs will be posted by then as well.

Given such momentum, local governments and Valley economic development agencies should capitalize on K-C’s nearly $1 billion investment in Trumbull County by actively seeking suppliers and other complementary industries to locate near the plant, which will be K-C’s second largest manufacturing facility in the nation.

Among other important unfinished business in the Valley:

�–� Youngstown’s new Mayor Derrick McDowell, his Cabinet and city council must work to make downtown streets free and clear of all the frustrating closures and detours that have crippled businesses and hindered development. The search to fill gaping vacant white elephants at 20 Federal Place, the former Eastern Gateway campus, the Realty Tower property and others also must proceed with all due speed.

�–� In Warren, city leaders must also make progress on its promising $150 million downtown redevelopment plan.

�–� In education, the Youngstown City Schools must work aggressively to ensure a smooth and peaceful merger of its two high schools. Youngstown State University must dot all I’s and cross all T’s toward a successful opening of its first regional campus in Steubenville next summer.

�–� In business, development and community leaders must work to preserve the region’s reputation as a center of advanced manufacturing and as the “Voltage Valley” even amid a downturn in the electric vehicle industry.

�–� In politics, candidates for critical federal, state and county offices in 2026 must commit themselves to fair, clean and informative campaigns.

In sum, conditions are favorable for guarded optimism as we stand on the welcome mat to 2026. For optimal success, however, we must confront the many vexing challenges that weigh us down and seize the momentum of new opportunities that can build us up.