Mahoning auditor, state Dems dispute state audit's call for concessions

YOUNGSTOWN

A performance audit by state Auditor Dave Yost, which recommends $566,500 in annual personnel cost savings in the Mahoning County Engineer’s Office, appears to have become a political football at the local and state levels.

On Wednesday, the Ohio Democratic Party and Teamsters Local 377 blasted the audit’s recommendations for $384,000 in annual concessions in the Teamsters local’s labor contract. That local represents 51 of the engineer’s office employees.

In prepared statements, the Democratic Party and Richard Sandberg, president of Local 377, said Yost’s recommendations concerning Teamster concessions are reminiscent of proposed restrictions on collective bargaining that were contained in Senate Bill 5, which the state’s voters repealed in 2011.

The audit also calls for operating efficiency improvements in the engineer’s office to be induced in part by new computer technology, specifically use of purchasing software, and conversion from a paper-based to an electronic payroll system.

The audit was released Tuesday by Yost, a Republican, who is seeking re-election Nov. 4.

The state Democratic organization announced a news conference by the Democratic county engineer, Patrick Ginnetti, first at the Teamsters’ hall and later moved to the engineer’s office, and issued two news releases, one on behalf of the state Democratic organization and the other on behalf of the Teamsters.

“I just don’t feel we got what we paid for” in the audit, which cost the county $100,000, Ginnetti said during his news conference.

Read more about the dispute in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.