IMPROVING YOUNGSTOWN GOVERNMENT

March 3, 2013 at 12:00a.m.

Youngstown has implemented or is giving serious consideration to recommendations from an efficiency report of government operations. Here are some of the recommendations and the status of each.

Seek proposals from banks to lower the interest rate paid on $11.9 million borrowed by the city to pay its portion of the $45 million Covelli Centre. The city did that, reducing its annual interest from $579,925 in 2011 to $113,250 in 2012.

Look to sell or lease the center. The city is seeking proposals from businesses interested in buying the center for $15 million or leasing it for $700,000 annually though many city officials say they are happy with how the facility is run now.

Develop performance-based reviews of department heads. This is being finalized and should begin shortly.

Eliminate the city’s pickup of new employees’ 10-perent contribution to pensions. Being negotiated and to be implemented over a 3-to-5-year period with unions when contracts expire.

Increase employees’ share of health insurance premiums from 10 percent to 15 percent. This also is being negotiated with unions, but primarily for new hires.

Do not hire new employees after retirements unless it is essential. The city had 53 employees take an early buyout last year and has, to date, replaced three of them. The city is saving $2.4 million this year and about $4 million next year because of this.

Reduce the cost of incarcerating prisoners charged with less serious offenses. Youngstown paid $323,480 last year to Mahoning County to house prisoners charged with city offenses at the county jail at a cost of $80 a day per prisoner. The city is charging fewer people with city offenses and instead charging them with similar state offenses. That’s led to January’s bill to the county jail dropping to $10,720 compared to $32,800 in January 2012. The expectation is the bill will be around $125,000 this year and about half of that in 2014.

Sell or lease the city-owned 20 Federal Place downtown office building. After addressing the potential sale or lease of the Covelli Centre, this is next on the list of city assets to be put on the market for sale or lease.

Sources: The Youngstown Plan, city officials