New county commissioners need support of taxpayers

New county commissioners need support of taxpayers
EDITOR:
Recently the Mahoning County commissioners have had some negative comments directed at them for replacing different department personnel. It is their responsibility to assemble a team that will unite their efforts to make this county efficient and cost effective. They need to be comfortable with the people they entrust with this responsibility.
At a recent commissioners meeting, Chairman Anthony Traficanti said, "this is a new government and we were elected to do a job and we are going to do it. This is not business as usual." This is not going to be an easy chore. The out-going commissioners left the county in pitiful financial condition and the State of Ohio is adding to the financial mess by curtailing state funds.
The new commissioners are like a breath of fresh air. They encourage public input and attendance at their meetings. They are already demonstrating their sincerity by putting in long hours and Anthony Traficanti is assuming the dual job of county administrator.
As a taxpayer, I appreciate good services and good roads. But these services must come with a price tag.
What were the voters of this county thinking when they rejected the half-percent tax?
It has been announced that this team of commissioners will be putting this tax back on the May ballot, with some revisions such as making this a temporary tax instead of a permanent tax.
The voters elected these men by the biggest margin in county history. Are we as taxpayers being responsible by voting against this tax and handicapping them to do the job we elected them to do? No amount of government streamlining and cost saving measures can overcome the $13 million to $15 million this tax provides. Even with passage, the state and county auditors project a $3 million deficit.
I feel confident these commissioners will meet the challenges facing them.
We as taxpayers must let them function on a level playing field. How else can we honestly evaluate their job performance? We must pass this half-percent tax. It is vital for progress and to sustain the quality of life we all enjoy and it doesn't cost one red cent in additional taxes.
OLIN E. HARKLEROAD
North Jackson
Now that superintendentis going, what's next?
EDITOR:
Now that the deed has been done and the fate of Brookfield's superintendent has been decided, it is time to hold accountable the very individuals who allowed him to remain there for as long as they did. I'm speaking of course about the school board itself and its underhanded and very possibly unethical handling of the superintendent's resignation to curry favor with voters in order to pass a levy.
Are these the people we want to trust with the decisions of our children's educational well being? These individuals who degrade and belittle community members in attendance at school board meetings? Community members who pay taxes? How can we as members of the community, in good conscience, allow these individuals to remain in their positions after allowing the school system to fall into such chaos?
If you have children attending school in this district, it's time to act. We need sweeping change on the school board as it is quite apparent that none of these individuals are fit to sit on the school board due to their lack of integrity and credibility as a whole. They have collectively managed to turn our school district into the laughing stock of Trumbull County. The billboard on Warren-Sharon Road should say, "OK, Brookfield school board members, what do you have to say now?"
As a citizen of this school district, I urge each and every citizen to get involved in their child's education. Not just by voting for or against a levy, but by voting for responsible, competent individuals capable of properly overseeing our children's educational well being and possessing the fiscal right-mindedness to bring our school system to a higher level without trying to pull the wool over our eyes.
ULYSSES A. JOHNSON
Brookfield