Mahoning County officials must justify their existence

Not to burst Mahoning County Commissioner David Ludt’s bubble, but the glaring absence of the public at last week’s public hearing on the renewal of a half-percent sales tax isn’t necessarily an indication of widespread satisfaction with government. It could well be that those who foot the bill have become so cynical, they don’t believe their input matters.

Commissioners Ludt, Anthony Traficanti and John A. McNally IV can’t risk guessing wrong as to why no one showed up for Monday’s session. If the turnout is just as poor tomorrow, when the second public hearing on the tax renewal is held at 10 a.m. in the county courthouse basement hearing room, they should schedule one more — at night, in one of the suburban communities. It’s about winning the hearts and minds of the taxpayers by taking government to them.

The idea that the citizens of Mahoning County are pleased as punch with what is going on in the courthouse, the administration building and the other locales is laughable. Not many people in the private sector are in a giving mood, especially considering all the layoffs, wage concessions, pension freezes and higher health care premiums they’re enduring during the current economic recession. Indeed, when taxpayers consider the fact that at least 80 percent of the government’s operating fund is gobbled up by employee costs, they express their displeasure by rejecting tax issues on the ballot.

Ludt, Traficanti, McNally and all the other county officeholders and employees should disabuse themselves of the notion that the half-percent sales tax that, in all probability, will appear on this November’s general election ballot will be approved because it is a renewal. Nothing is a sure thing in this economy.

Public relations

Taking the public hearing to the residents at a time that is convenient to them would not only be a good public relations move, but it would prove that the commissioners and other officeholders aren’t afraid to face their employers — the taxpayers.

While it is true that county government cannot operate without a 1 percent sales tax — the second half-percent was renewed in May 2007 and is in effect for a continuous period — someone had better be prepared to answer this question: What happens if voters say no to the renewal?

The obvious response would be that the issue will be placed on next May’s primary ballot. But if it is again rejected, then what?

This is the ideal time for commissioners to have a dialogue with the residents of Mahoning County about reorganizing county government. The Regional Chamber has proposed that Mahoning and Trumbull counties should adopt a form of government that would have a county executive to manage day-to-day operations and an elected governing board to set policy. The office of commissioner and other administrative offices would be eliminated.

The chamber has not been able to get any public traction on its idea because there are too many special interests determined to maintain the status quo.

Governments at all levels as we know them are no longer sustainable or logical. Consolidation must become a topic of community discussion.

Commissioners Ludt, Traficanti and McNally should take this opportunity to launch that conversation in Mahoning County.