Mahoning commissioners to gauge finances before layoffs

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County commissioners say they’ll carefully study the county’s financial condition before they decide on layoffs of employees.

“I hope that our layoffs can be kept to a minimum, where they are right now, but it’s not something that we take lightly,” Commissioner John A. McNally IV said Tuesday.

His colleague, Commissioner David N. Ludt, said it remains to be seen how much of the federal economic stimulus package “trickles down to us.”

Ludt added: “We are being very cautious on who we’re laying off.”

The county engineer’s office laid off nine workers at the end of last year due to doubling asphalt and road salt prices and falling gasoline tax and vehicle license plate revenues.

The commissioners made their comments as management at the county’s Department of Job and Family Services continues to discuss with JFS’ four labor bargaining units a restructuring, concessions and potential layoffs in the wake of a $5 million reduction in state and federal funding.

Read more in Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com