Mahoning County taxpayers get attention of government

The budget hearings being conducted by Mahoning County commissioners are shaping up to be exactly what the taxpayers want — as they contemplate the renewal of a half-percent sales tax.

After the defeat of the tax in the November general election, commissioners Anthony Traficanti, David Ludt and John A. McNally IV made it clear that business-as-usual in county government is no longer an option.

Their message to those officeholders who get their operating dollars from the general fund was clear: Do not ask for an increase in funding for 2010, and be prepared to make concessions.

It appears the message is getting through.

Last week, Administrative Judge John M. Durkin of the Common Pleas Court’s general division submitted a budget of $2,290,013, compared with the $2,405,194 that is expected to be spent this year.

A month ago, Probate Judge Mark Belinky requested $842,000 for 2010, compared with the $894,833 he received this year. Residents will recall that Belinky was embroiled in a legal battle with the commissioners over his 2009 budget allocation, and ultimately forced the commissioners to throw in the towel.

That left a bitter taste the mouths of many private sector taxpayers, who have seen their wages and benefits stagnate, or worse, have been forced to take pay cuts and to make other concessions, such as paying a higher percentage of the health care premiums.

Belinky’s request for next year should endear him to the voters; Judge Durkin and the four other judges of the Common Pleas general division, R. Scott Krichbaum, James Evans, Maureen Sweeney and Lou D’Apolito, are also worthy of praise.

Juvenile court

However, commissioners will have to deal with Juvenile Court Judge Theresa Dellick’s request for more money than she received this year. Her budget for 2010 amounts to $6,092,095, whereas she is expected to spend between $5.9 million and $6 million this year.

When she appeared before the commissioners, Dellick argued that the Juvenile Division is more than just a court. She noted the it is responsible for counseling, probation and must operate round-the-clock juvenile detention.

Juveniles in detention receive clothing, meals, medical care, schooling, counseling and participate in physical education and arts and crafts.

The court laid off 11 employees at the beginning of the year and the remaining 143 employees took a 5 percent pay cut March 1.

Nonetheless, when taxpayers see any government entity going after more money, the reaction is predictable: There they go again wasting our dollars.

If the commissioners agree to what Judge Dellick has requested, they must be prepared to justify the increase.

But, they do have reason to be optimistic about the passage of the half-percent sales tax in May given what is transpiring in the budget hearings.

The public will get a chance to question the commissioners and other county officials on the 2010 budget during town hall meetings on Jan. 4 and 11.

What would really impress county residents is if the commissioners could announce that all county employees will be paying a 10 percent health insurance co-pay and will be accepting wage freezes.

Having a job in this economy is a luxury that many Mahoning County residents have yet to experience.