COMMISSIONERS Challenger says he's seeking only 1 term

The candidates sparred over the legitimacy of a community development fund.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- David Ludt is asking voters to elect him for one more term as Mahoning County commissioner. His opponent, Jeffrey Groat, is asking for one term only.
Ludt, a Democrat, is wrapping up his first term. He wants another term to continue projects and programs begun over the past four years.
He pointed to a community development fund, implemented four years ago, as proof that commissioners have taken steps to build local community infrastructures. Thirty-six projects have been completed over that time period, he said.
Commissioners set aside a percentage of revenue from a 0.5 percent county sales tax for the projects. The money is distributed to townships and municipalities according to their location in funding districts.
Groat, a Republican and former Austintown Township trustee, called the program nothing more than pork, which riled Ludt.
"He might call it pork, but these are basic developments for our county," Ludt said. "If you think a new township building or a new fire station are pork, then so be it."
Those are some of the projects that have been funded through the program.
The program gets its funding from one of two 0.5 percent sales taxes on the books in the county. The other expires at the end of this year and is on the ballot for renewal. Both taxes generate about $12 million a year.
Need for tax renewal
Ludt said the fate of the tax that's up for renewal in November is crucial to the county's economic future because it is used exclusively for operating county government. If it fails, commissioners will have to make tough decisions about where to impose substantial budget cuts.
He declined to be specific about where the cuts will be made.
"I don't want people to think we're using a scare tactic on them," Ludt said. "Let's just say services would be curtailed quite a bit."
Ludt said commissioners and other county officials have made cuts over the past four years to help keep the budget in check. The number of employees in the commissioners' office has dropped from 15 to 11, and the treasurer's roster has dipped from 22 to 13, he said.
Ludt said sales tax revenue has also been used as local matching funds to leverage state and federal grants that have helped pay for several water and sewer projects locally.
Groat said he supports the tax but expects it to fail at the polls. If that happens, commissioners should be ready with a backup plan.
Specifically, Groat said he would vote to impose a 0.25 percent sales tax as an emergency measure because he believes that amount is "absolutely necessary." He would be hard-pressed to impose a 0.5 percent tax, though.
Opposing view
Ludt said he would have to "think long and hard" about imposing a 0.25 percent tax. He's not in favor of imposing taxes, and doesn't think the lesser amount would be enough to meet the county's needs.
Groat criticized Ludt for not having "an original thought" since he's been in office, and said he's only looking to be commissioner for one term.
"I'm not a career politician," Groat said. "I don't think you can make a major impact if you're worried about what your re-election bid looks like every time you make a tough decision."
He criticized commissioners for not having an economic development plan that would boost the economy through employment revenue rather than relying on the sales taxes.
"We lack an environment that's conducive to growth," he said.
Groat said that if elected, he would propose that commissioners discontinue financial support for passenger travel at the Youngstown-Warren Municipal Airport, though he supports the general aviation aspect of the facility and understands the importance of the Youngstown Air Reserve Base.
"It appears to me that after dumping millions of dollars into a facility that doesn't show any significant signs of future success, there comes a time when we have to say 'enough,'" Groat said.
bjackson@vindy.com