Official pushes to cut the cost of government
The Regional Chamber is moving closer to mounting a campaign to consolidate school districts and governments in the Mahoning Valley.
Tom Humphries, chamber president, said Wednesday that he will ask his board of directors next week to support both efforts. Groups of business leaders, formed by the chamber 18 months ago, have been examining ways to make schools and governments more efficient so that more money can be spent on attracting companies and creating jobs.
Humphries said the campaign may push to create one central administration for all schools in a county. Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties now have a total of 45 school districts, each with their own superintendent.
Humphries said he wasn't sure where the effort to reduce government will lead. Revamping county government, combining services and consolidating local governments all are possibilities, he said.