Thursday, January 22, 2015
YOUNGSTOWN
Bolstered by soaring sales-tax revenues, the finances of Mahoning County are robust, county Auditor Michael V. Sciortino told the commissioners in his final annual state of the county report.
On Thursday, Sciortino, who leaves office March 8, presented the commissioners with a financial report showing nonstop growth in annual sales-tax revenue to the county government from a low point just below $26.2 million at the bottom of the Great Recession in 2008-09 to $31.6 million in 2013 and nearly $33.5 million in 2014.
“As economic conditions improve, our overall fiscal strength improves,” Sciortino said. “Our fiscal condition, as far as the state of the county is concerned, is strong.”
“It seems like we’re headed toward a bright future,” said Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti.
“Because we have new revenues coming in next year doesn’t mean that we have to get crazy” with spending, said Commissioner Anthony Traficanti. “We still have to watch our money. We have to keep the purse strings as tight as we possibly can.”
Read more about the financial picture in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.