Mahoning CSB spends money with little regard for taxpayers
Earlier this month, in criticizing Mahoning County officeholders and other government bigwigs who gave pay raises while the Valley’s economy struggles to find a foothold, we asked the following question: “Will this violation of public trust ever end?”
Today, we can answer with an unequivocal “No!”
Given what has transpired over the past year, taxpayers of the county are doomed to live with the reality that there’s a disconnect between the private and public sectors.
One has been forced to adopt belt-tightening as the cost of staying in business; the other has been spending money like it’s going out of style. You don’t have to be a cynical journalist to figure out which is making sacrifices and which is throwing caution to the wind.
This space has long been dedicated to the proposition that a change in attitude of government officials will occur only when residents of Mahoning County stand up and say, “Enough!”
They are doing that with greater frequency.
In an editorial on May 3, we contrasted the decision by Trumbull County commissioners not to impose a sales-tax increase, thereby following the wishes of the people, to Mahoning County officeholders who granted pay raises and bonuses — in violation of the public trust.
When voters approved a 0.75-percent sales tax renewal/increase last November, they were swayed by the promises made by Sheriff Jerry Greene and commissioners Anthony Traficanti, Carol Rimedio-Righetti and David Ditzler that the money generated by the 0.5 percent renewal and the 0.25 percent increase would be used to maintain the status quo in the criminal justice system. There was no mention of raises.
But the ink hadn’t even dried on the final vote count before raises were being given to county employees.
Likewise, when the county Children Services Board sought the support of voters last November for a 1.85-mill, five-year real-estate levy, there was no mention of pay raises. Instead, CSB Executive Director Randall Muth tugged at residents’ heartstrings when he noted that state aid had fallen 13.71 percent since 2011, and federal assistance had dropped 4.72 percent.
RAISE AFTER RAISE
But what a difference a “yes” vote makes.
The extra money that’s coming in is ending up in the pockets of management and union employees.
This week, the CSB board raised the salaries of 16 of its management employees by an average of 3 percent, retroactive to Feb. 1.
Just weeks ago, union workers in the agency received an 18 percent raise to make up for an eight-year wage freeze.
The justification then, as now, is that CSB needs to pay competitive salaries in order to keep experienced, qualified employees from going elsewhere.
It’s the same argument made by most officeholders who have granted raises for their staffs while private-sector taxpayers are forced to accept freezes, make concessions and even give back benefits.
CSB is just the latest in a long line of public entities that have shown no reluctance in thumbing their noses at the voters.
But with each Vindicator story detailing the out-of-control spending by government, the public’s anger at being betrayed grows.
If the county’s sales tax renewal/increase and the CSB levy were put to a vote today, they would go down in flames.
But even five years from now, officials should expect the worst. Voters have long memories.
As do we.