A city starved for funding should sell its assets

A city starved for funding should sell its assets

EDITOR:

Youngstown can readily fund a facility for its Municipal Court and possibly afford new facilities and offices for a much-needed enhanced law enforcement presence without raising its already high municipal income tax rate. Sell the Youngstown Water Department; better yet, sell the entire Mahoning Valley Sanitary District.

The state of Indiana sold its toll road for a lump sum of $3.5 billion that earns more annual interest than it earned in its entire 50 year history.

Selling a government-owned or controlled entity such as water/sewer utilities requires legislative approval. I urge any member of city council and any state legislators form the area to propose such legislation.

Perhaps one of our Mahoning County commissioners can likewise suggest a county-owned nonproductive asset that could be sold to generate funding for the county courts.

Atty. CARL RAFOTH

Youngstown