Push for regionalization could get a boost Nov. 4

A recent meeting of 80 or so elected and appointed government officials from Mahoning and Trumbull counties on regional collaboration sparked all the predictable comments about changing the way the public sector does business. But, like other such gatherings, there were no substantive initiatives adopted that would result in huge savings to the taxpayers.

Change is never easy, especially when such change threatens provincial attitudes of officeholders.

But come the night of Nov. 4, when the general election votes are counted, the push for regionalization by the Regional Chamber could get a major boost — out of necessity. That’s because voters will have had their say on how they view government. The tax levies on the ballot are, in many cases, being portrayed as essential to the health of the public entities seeking them.

Given the current national economic crisis and the fact that taxpayers are being squeezed from all sides, it would be foolhardy to bet on passage of the levies. That means officeholders and others in the public sector will have to start thinking about the future — if voters say no to approving additional taxes or renewing those on the books.

The chamber, which has long advocated regional cooperation and has studied government and public education reform, will undoubtedly be called on to host another meeting, sooner rather than later, of area public officials

Per-person spending

When that occurs, it would be worthwhile to repeat some of the facts about this region that were contained in a study by the Center for Government Research of Rochester, N.Y.: Between 1992 and 2002, Mahoning County’s population decreased by 3 percent; Trumbull County’s population declined by 5 percent.

However, the per-person spending in Mahoning to operate the county, cities, villages, townships, special districts and the school systems increased by 83 percent. In Trumbull, the per person spending rose by 72 percent.

Between 1992 and 2002, the inflation rate increased by 29 percent.

There’s another fact that has contributed to private sector taxpayers’ cynicism: 7.7 percent of the employees in Mahoning County work for governments and schools; 7.8 percent in Trumbull County do so.

And given that more than 80 percent of operating budgets in the public sector is taken up by salaries and benefits, here’s a reality that also angers many in the private sector: In Mahoning County, the per-person spending is $2,914, in Trumbull, $2,712. Taxpayers want those numbers reduced.

What if the voters on Nov. 4 approve all the levies on the ballot? Does it mean that changes in way governments and school districts operate can be put on hold?

Not at all.

With the current economic realities, things are going to get worse over the next several years. Therefore, every public official has the responsibility to find a way of doing more with less.

In addition, the two initiatives developed by the chamber, changing the form of county government in Mahoning and Trumbull counties and centralizing the administration of all the public school districts in each county, demands serious public discussion.