Clarification on last week’s column about the Youngstown mayor’s travel

I want to clarify an item in last week’s column about the Youngstown mayor’s travel budget.

As I wrote last week, that budget is increasing to $15,000 this year from $10,719 last year.

But what I didn’t know last week is about 90 percent of the mayor’s travel expenses come at no cost to the city. Most of the money for travel comes from grants, and organizations that host events.

The change in the Ohio Senate Democratic leadership includes upgrades for the Mahoning Valley members of the legislative body.

State Sens. Capri Cafaro of Liberty, D-32nd, and Jason Wilson of Columbiana, D-30th, were appointed to the Finance and Financial Institutions Committee with Cafaro serving as its ranking Democratic member.

State Sen. John Boccieri of New Middletown, D-33rd, is the ranking Democrat on the Energy and Public Utilities Committee.

Boccieri had wanted to serve on that committee, but the previous Democratic Senate leadership didn’t appoint him to a seat. Now he’s the top Democrat on the committee.

skolnick@vindy.com