Trim now or chop later

Trim now or chop later

Some public officials are trying to keep up, others are lagging behind and some may not make a move until it’s too late.

We’re talking about the need to react to the reality of declining revenue. They all know it’s a fact, but so far relatively few have taken action.

Let’s try an analogy.

The median household income in Mahoning County is about $40,000 a year. A prudent person has learned to lived within that income.

If in January, that person changes jobs or loses a part time job and is able to project that his income for the year is likely to be only $35,000, he has two basic options. He can begin working to cut about $500 a month from his expenses for the remainder of the year, or he can spend like there is no tomorrow.

If he follows the first course, there is going to be some day-to-day pain, but at year’s end, the family will still have a roof over its head and food on the table.

If he follows the second course, he may realize by, say, June that he’s going to run out of money before the end of the year. But then the family is going to have to cut expenses by about $1,000 a month for the rest of the year. That carries more pain.

Doomsday scenario

If he does nothing, when Thanksgiving Day comes, the family is going to have very little to be thankful for. There will be no money.

Some county officials may be banking on county commissioners bailing them out at the end of the year. It is up to the commissioners to make it very plain and very public that there will be no bailouts for the imprudent.

In recent weeks, Judge Theresa Dellick has laid off 11 employees and has announced 5 percent pay cuts for remaining staff members. Sheriff Randall Wellington cut 11 jailers, all still on their probationary period, from his staff. Since 2007, the County Health Board has laid off seven employees and five other positions have gone unfilled.

Offices and departments that take early action to live within their means should not have their prudence insulted at year’s end by watching profligate departments demand or be given supplemental appropriations. Every head-of-household has to learn to live within his or her means; so must every county officeholder or department head.