Columbiana budget: A disaster waiting to happen

LISBON — Sean Logan, chairman of the Columbiana County commissioners, says it’s a question of when — not whether — commissioners will be taken to court by office holders over a lack of money in 2007.

Logan’s comments came Wednesday as the commissioners held budget hearings for county offices.

“There will be a mandamus action next year,” Logan said.

A mandamus action is a court action to force an official to do his duty. In the county’s case, officeholders who can set their own budgets, such as judges, can take commissioners to court to get enough operating funds.

The county will be $4 million short of its $18 million budget because of voter rejection of a 0.5 percent sales tax.

If office-holders seek mandamus actions and win, that will leave less money or possibly no money for departments that can’t set their own budgets.