Gains’ budget demand shows myopia of some officeholders

What part of economic reces sion doesn’t Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul Gains — and other officeholders with visions of financial grandeur — understand? How many times must they be told that the county’s operating budget is on life support and that unreasonable demands only illustrate how far removed from reality these elected officials are in matters of the public purse?

If we’ve said it once we’ve said it a dozen times since the great recession hit in late 2007: The public sector must begin to follow the private sector’s example and learn to do more with less — less money, fewer employees and even, perhaps, less compensation for government workers.

The bottom line is that Mahoning County government cannot afford to be distracted by ridiculous demands for funding, such as the one made last week by Prosecutor Gains. As the headline on the front page of Tuesday’s Vindicator stated, “Gains seeks a 60% hike — 2011 budget increase needed for pay raises, prosecutor argues.” A 60 percent increase in his budget over what he received this year is a hair-raiser by any standard. Wanting that money so his staff can receive pay raises is an insult — to all the hard working private-sector taxpayers who have had to settle for pay freezes for several years, coupled with increased payments for health insurance coverage and fewer fringe benefits.

What could Gains have been thinking when he went before county commissioners David Ludt, Anthony Traficanti and John McNally to present his budget request for next year? Obviously, not much, or he would not have broached the subject of more money for his employees.

He also couldn’t have been thinking about the county’s financial condition when he suggested an increase from $2,568,000 this year to $4,092,783 next year. As a member of the county’s budget commission — the treasurer and auditor also serve — the prosecutor knows the status of the operating budget. But in case he has forgotten here’s how things stand:

Through October, the county spent $44,260,000, compared with $48,905,000 over the same period last year.

For the year, the county expects to spend a little over $53 million, compared with the $61.1 million spent in 2009.

Local Government Fund

And the picture will not improve next year. Not only will the revenue stream from the county’s sales taxes continue to be weak, but commissioners must be prepared for a major reduction in the Local Government Fund financed by the state. That’s because Ohio is facing a $4 billion to $8 billion shortfall in the next biennium, and Gov.-elect John Kasich has made it clear the hole will be filled through slashing government spending.

Kasich, a Republican who foiled Democrat Ted Strickland’s bid for a second four-year term, has said he does not intend to raise taxes and will eliminate the deficit by implementing major cost-cutting initiatives.

The county has already experienced a reduction in the Local Government Fund allocation. In 2008, it received $5.49 million from the state. Last year, the total was $4.76 million. This year, $4.71 million is expected.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Mahoning County government is on thin financial ice. Gains and other county officeholders should face reality and temper their budget demands.