Don’t let incompetence affect sales tax support

We don’t know the extent of voter disgust over the incompetence of the Mahoning County Board of Elections in dealing with the sales tax issue that will be on Tuesday’s general election ballot, but we aren’t willing to take any chances. Thus today, we not only reiterate our support for the renewal of the half-percent sales tax, but urge voters not to be thrown off by the word “additional” that is to be found in the text of Issue 4.

This is not a new tax. The difference between what is being voted on Tuesday and what was approved five years ago is the period of time the tax would be in effect. Passage will mean the 0.5 percent will be permanent — just like the other 0.5 percent that voters made permanent last year.

We understand residents’ reluctance to give government carte blanche when it comes to the spending of tax dollars, but they still have a trump card if officeholders turn out to be less than responsible keepers of the public purse: They can “throw the bums out.” On the other hand, there is a strong argument to be made for bringing stability to government finances. A permanent tax gives the county commissioners, who control the treasury, the ability to develop long-range plans, particularly with regard to capital projects.

Thus, when you go to the polls Tuesday, we urge you to not only ignore the recent controversy surrounding the wording of the sales tax issue, but to think in terms of giving our elected officials the tools they need to intelligently chart the county’s course.

Suspensions

As for the board of elections, the decision to suspend clerk Danielle O’Neill for five days without pay for failing to perform her ballot-related duties, and to suspend Director Thomas McCabe for three days without pay for failing to adequately supervise a member of his staff is an acknowledgement of the system’s failure.

The four members of the board of elections, Democrats Michael Morley and Robert Wasko and Republicans Clarence Smith and Mark Munroe, acted expeditiously when the controversy broke, but a top-to-bottom review of the practices and procedures of the office is warranted.

Given that it was county commissioners David Ludt, Anthony Traficanti and John V. McNally IV who passed a resolution instructing the board of elections to place the sales tax issue on the ballot, we have to wonder if there is adequate communication between them and the county prosecutor’s office, which drew up the resolution.

Finally, there is the question of whether the word renewal should have or could have been used in the caption or text of county Issue 4.

But while such matters are important, the bottom line with regard to the renewal of the half-percent sales tax is this: Without the $14 million it generates, Mahoning County government — including the sheriff’s department, prosecutor, courts and 911 center — would be crippled.