Judges question consolidation plan

A cost-benefit analysis is needed, a county court judge says.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Being able to afford lodging in Mahoning County jails for all defendants sentenced to serve time there is a higher priority than consolidating county courts under one roof, county court judges say.
"If we've got monies available, I'd like them spent on opening the jail up so that those people that we have sentenced to jail will serve their time," said Judge Joseph M. Houser of the county court in Boardman, who is administrative and presiding judge for the four county courts.
The judges' access to the jail has been limited by a federal court ruling specifying minimum numbers of deputies required to be on duty in the jail at various cell occupancy levels, Judge Houser explained.
"Keeping prisoners behind bars absolutely has to be our top priority," to keep the community safe, said Judge Scott D. Hunter of the county court in Canfield.
A proposal
The judges were responding to a renewed call from Anthony Traficanti, chairman of the Mahoning County commissioners, for consolidation of the county courts, except the one in Sebring, into a single county-owned complex.
The proposal would put the county courts that are now in Boardman, Austintown and Canfield under one roof.
Traficanti made his remarks at Tuesday's commissioners' meeting. He did not return a telephone call seeking a further explanation Wednesday.
Judge Houser said the judges have discussed the consolidation issue with both current and former county commissioners, and they would be willing to again discuss any aspects of court and criminal justice system operations with them.
A financial analysis of the costs of a new court building is needed, he said.
"A decision of that magnitude has to be made based upon a serious cost-benefit analysis, which, to my knowledge has not been done," Judge Hunter said, adding that the matter would have to be analyzed from both a short-term and long-term perspective.
If such an analysis were performed and it would show cost savings from such a consolidation, "then, obviously you'd have to take a look at that," Judge Hunter said.
Is it worth it?
Judge David A. D'Apolito of the county court in Austintown said there has never been any study or finding that shows court consolidation would be a financial benefit to the county.
The current system of satellite courts is geographically convenient to local residents, businesses and police, Judge Hunter said.
When the county rents quarters, as it does for all four county courts, the landlords pay property taxes to support the local schools and community, but a county-owned building would be tax-exempt, he added.
This year's rents for the four county courts are $78,625 for Austintown; $77,008 for Boardman; $48,384 for Canfield; and $67,453 for Sebring.
With the combined rents totaling $204,017 in the three courts that would be consolidated, the payback time on a new building estimated to cost $8 million would be about 40 years, not counting interest payments, Judge Houser said.
"I don't know how the county could afford to acquire property and construct a building when the county is in this financial dilemma," Judge D'Apolito said, referring to the on-again, off-again half-percent sales tax and inability to fully staff and operate the jail.
It would be difficult to justify passage of a sales tax renewal to the voters if convenient court services were to be taken away and millions of dollars were to be spent on a new court building, he observed.
Whether county courts are in a separate or joint facility, the same number of court clerks likely would be required, assuming the caseload remains the same, Judge Hunter said. County Clerk of Courts Anthony Vivo "runs a very streamlined and efficient office," Hunter said.
Judge Houser said the consolidated county court would have to be located somewhere in the county court's jurisdiction; therefore it could not be located in Youngstown, Campbell or Struthers. He said, however, it should be along a public bus route.
"I think it should be centrally located, somewhere probably in the center of Austintown, Canfield or Boardman," County Prosecutor Paul Gains said of a potential consolidated county court.
Traficanti said such a consolidation might result in the county court judges going from part-time to full-time status, but Gains and Judge Houser said an act of the state Legislature would be required to switch the status.