Be prudent with spending, auditor tells officials

One commissioner said custodians are needed to ensure public health and safety.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- With a projected $9 million deficit looming in 2006, Mahoning County Auditor Michael Sciortino cautions commissioners on spending the rest of the year.
Sciortino sent commissioners a letter Monday in which he recommends that any projected unencumbered general fund balance at year's end be carried over for 2006 to lessen the blow caused by the deficit.
He also said additional money brought into the county from various projects such as solid waste tipping fees should go into the general fund to pay for mandated services.
Sciortino said $200,000 to $300,000 should be carried over into 2006. By comparison, the county had $4 million carry-over from 2004 into 2005, plus $7 million borrowed for jail operations.
Sciortino is concerned the three custodians the commissioners brought back from layoff last week will have to get laid off again in January.
Commissioner John McNally IV voted against rehiring the custodians when commissioners voted at last week's meeting.
Health, safety issue
Anthony Traficanti, commission board president, said Tuesday commissioners know layoffs are possible in 2006, including the recently rehired custodians. Traficanti said, however, that having no custodians at the county courthouse became a health and safety issue.
Traficanti said Pete Triveri, county facilities director, said the custodians were needed. He said the lack of custodians created health and safety concerns because not only did general cleanliness of county buildings suffer, but repairs were left undone.
Traficanti said the custodians will be needed during the winter for snow removal, in addition to their other duties.
Traficanti said commissioners are aware the county's financial future looks bleak and that they must be cautious about general fund spending. He said, however, that the $15,000 needed to bring the custodians back is coming from the county's unemployment compensation fund.
Sciortino said, however, that about $80,000 is needed to keep them on the job through 2006. Hiring in areas other than to meet mandates for the county jail's operation sends the public the wrong message, he said.
"There is still federal litigation surrounding our county jail because we can't afford to hire more deputies and incarcerate more inmates," Sciortino said. "We shouldn't be giving false readings to the public that money exists when it actually doesn't."
tullis@vindy.com