Sales tax buyer’s remorse

Each new revelation of public dollars squandered by Mahoning County government officials is triggering a backlash from residents who supported the 0.75 percent sales tax renewal/increase in November. And as their feelings of regret grow, so do the calls for a referendum on the tax.

Reaction has been fast and furious to The Vindicator’s recent stories about pay raises and bonuses granted by outgoing Auditor Michael Sciortino, the newspaper’s editorials criticizing the commissioners for taking a hands-off posture, and this writer’s columns blasting Democrat Sciortino and praising his successor, Republican Ralph Meacham.

Here’s an example of the emails:

“What took The Vindicator or you so long to write the expose on the greedy bunch of Mahoning County politicians and judges? I’m willing to circulate petitions right now to rescind the 0.5% renewal and 0.25% increase in the sales tax. That’s the only way to get the message through to those people. They actually believe they are an entitled group. The stunt the county judge pulled by retiring/rehiring of himself was more than sufficient cause to start a referendum against the tax. County commissioners are a joke. They have their nerve criticizing the former auditor. Where [were] their voices when they were giving him everything he asked for? Now after he is out of office, they start criticizing him in an ugly attempt to ingratiate themselves with the voters. I will volunteer to circulate petitions to put the sales tax issue back up to a vote immediately. Five, six years is too long to wait before voting again on the issue. By that time, voters will have forgotten what these clowns have done. Also would like to circulate petitions to recall that judge. I am certain the voters would vote to ‘retire’ him once and for all.

Signed : A sick and tired ripped off taxpayer.”

Despicable behavior

In the midst of Sciortino’s despicable behavior prior to his leaving office — he lost the November election to political newcomer Meacham because voters didn’t want him in government anymore — Commissioner Anthony Traficanti called to explain why he and his colleagues, Carol Rimedio-Righetti and David Ditzler, did not make a stink about the pay raises and bonuses. Traficanti, Rimedio-Righetti and Ditzler also didn’t blast Sheriff Jerry Greene for his deputies getting raises shortly after the sales tax issue was approved. It’s important to note that a conciliator issued a binding ruling that favored the employees. Nonetheless, Mahoning County voters who were won over by the sky-is-falling campaign on behalf of the 0.75-percent sales tax renewal/increase were never told that county workers would be personally benefitting.

Indeed, the commissioners, along with county Budget Director Audrey Tillis, insisted that the revenue generated by the tax renewal/increase was not a windfall.

“This budget just brings us to a point where we stay status quo,” said Rimedio-Righetti.

The decision by Common Pleas Judge R. Scott Krichbaum to retire shortly after he won another term and then to be rehired by remaining on the bench has also added to voters’ discontent.

It’s clear that taxpayers of the county want all officeholders to follow in Auditor Meacham’s footsteps and lift the veil of secrecy that has hidden the goings-on in county government for so long.

Such transparency, while a foreign concept in the public sector in the Mahoning Valley, may serve to appease disgruntled residents and stave off a referendum on the sales tax.

In that regard, Mahoning County government has been presented with an offer it would be foolish to refuse.

Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, who has gained national attention with his cutting-edge government transparency website that allows citizens to search, analyze and compare 112 million individual expenditures by state government, is prepared to do the same for Mahoning County — free of charge.

Detailed information

Mandel will come with his staff and put every detail of government’s revenues and expenditures on the county’s website.

Commissioners Traficanti, Rimedio-Righetti and Ditzler should join with Auditor Meacham in urging state Treasurer Mandel to create MahoningCheckbook.com.

The voters are restless. Remember, the sales tax renewal/increase issue barely passed in November.