State auditor to Niles mayor: There can be no dispute

NILES

State Auditor Dave Yost has warned Mayor Thomas Scarnecchia that he is failing to comply with state law by refusing to implement several items in the city’s financial recovery plan.

At the same time, the city’s state-appointed financial supervisors say Niles, in fiscal emergency since October 2014, faces a $1.5 million general fund deficit this year that must be eliminated.

Yost’s warning was contained in a letter that was read aloud during Wednesday’s Financial Planning and Supervision Commission meeting by Jim Armeni, an auditor liaison.

Armeni had publicly criticized Scarnecchia’s delay during last week’s city council meeting.

The mayor, who is a member of the commission, said he is working on an amended plan, but has ruled out complying with elimination of the income tax department and police dispatchers, and ending minimum manning in the safety forces.

“There are some items I don’t agree with,” the mayor said.

The state auditor’s letter is not sympathetic.

“Until the current plan is changed and the changes approved, you are bound by state law,” Yost wrote.

For more on the situation, read Thursday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.