Valley public sector spending requires large dose of reality

An independent study of the amount of money spent by governments and school districts in the Mahoning Valley confirms what we and others have been saying for years: It’s time to stop the madness.

In more formal terms, the spending cannot be sustained, given the loss of population and the shrinking tax bases at all levels.

So what is to be done? If it is up to the individuals who are feeding at the public trough, the answer can be summed up in one word — nothing.

Decision-makers have not previously shown an inclination to follow the lead of the private sector, where payroll reductions and other spending cuts are now the rule rather than the exception. And, there is nothing to suggest that the study by the Center for Government Research will inspire them to change their ways.

The center, located in Rochester, N.Y., focused its study on the 16-county Northeast Ohio region, but also conducted a separate review of Mahoning and Trumbull counties. It was paid $175,000 by foundations and organization, such as the Regional Chamber. The findings are a stark reminder of just how archaic public sector operations have become.

Between 1992 and 2002, Mahoning County lost 3 percent of its population, but the per-person expense to run county government, cities, villages, townships, special districts and school districts increased by an eye popping 83 percent.

In Trumbull County, the population dropped by 5 percent in the decade, but per-person expense increased by 72 percent.

One segment of government subject to reorganization is county government and there was a move afoot to do that in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. We’ll discuss the delay in that drive in an editorial tomorrow.

But the overriding reality is that more than 80 percent of the operating budgets of all governments and school districts is being gobbled up by employee salaries and benefits. The solution is clear: Slash the payrolls.

But slash isn’t a word officeholders and other decision makers seem to know.

Therefore, if things are to change, the impetus will have to come from the private sector.

And, taxpayers must realize that they have the power to put a stop to the runaway spending.