Is defeat of sales tax tied to health board fiasco?

There's good news and bad news with regard to the Columbiana County Health Department.
The good news is that state Auditor Betty Montgomery is conducting a special audit of the department's finances after concluding that improper spending uncovered through a regular review may be the tip of the iceberg.
Far be it for us to gloat, but back in July we made it clear that the spending practices of Health Commissioner Robert Morehead clearly justified a special audit. However, Montgomery disagreed with our assessment and chose to scrutinize the health department as part of the regular examination of the county's books.
But last month, she announced that there was sufficient justification for much closer scrutiny.
What was the foundation of our position in July? A three-month, intensive investigation by Vindicator Reporter Norman Leigh. Leigh found, among many other things, that Morehead has used a county credit card to make purchases for himself at a golf club in Nashport, Ohio, a department store in Pittsburgh, a souvenir shop in Daytona Beach while he was on vacation, and from a mail-order company that advertises itself as offering "Tools for Serious Readers."
To us, a presumption of criminal behavior on the part of the health commissioner was warranted given all the findings contained in the reporter's exhaustive news stories.
We, thus, applaud the state auditor for reaching the same conclusion -- albeit three months later.
Findings for recovery
Now for the bad news. The regular state audit of the health department revealed that 43 percent of the board of health's spending in 2003 was done without the prior authorization required by law. Findings for recovery of $6,313 against some board members and Health Commissioner Morehead were included in the report.
What this suggests to us is that there is a deeper problem with the health department than just the behavior of the head man.
Indeed, we are reminded of an observation from county Commissioner Jim Hoppel when The Vindicator stories were first published. Hoppel said that Morehead's spending, coupled with past fiscal questions in the department, spark concern about oversight of the department.
Hoppel serves on the advisory council that is charged with appointing the five health board members. The council is made up of the commissioner, township trustees and representatives of cities and villages.
We endorsed his plan to "take a look at the board members" and were disappointed that he could not get the rest of the advisory council to support him.
Today, however, in light of the defeat of the 1 percent sales tax renewal Tuesday, and in view of Hoppel's re-election as commissioner, council members would do well to publicly acknowledge that the five-member board of health has not performed its duties well. If it had, the state auditor would not have concluded that almost half the spending in 2003 was without authorization.
'Unsubstantiated expenses'
The state also would not have "uncovered a pattern of sloppy record keeping, unsubstantiated expenses, and outdated policies that have allowed public funds to be inappropriately used for illegitimate purposes."
Such harsh criticism of the board cannot be ignored -- even if the state auditor's office in now conducting a special audit of the health department.
Hoppel should renew his call for an examination of the five members of the health board and deserves the backing of the county's two other commissioners, Sean Logan, who also won re-election Tuesday, and Gary Williams.
The defeat of the 1 percent sales tax is an indication of taxpayer dissatisfaction. If this attitude prevails next year, Columbiana County could be in deep trouble. Both sales taxes, the 1 percent and the 0.5 percent, expire in 2005 and will be placed before the voters for renewal.
A firm hand in dealing with the board of health will go a long way toward winning over the electorate.