Niles Mayor Mientkiewicz has earned voters’ support

Although the city of Niles is no longer under state-declared fiscal emergency, let there be no doubt that members of the Ohio Auditor’s Office are keeping a close watch over that government’s operation.

Any divergence from the five-year budget recovery plan – it projects that revenues and expenditures will be in balance each year – will be seen as a breach of trust. A violation of the plan also will bring state auditors into City Hall.

That’s why it’s important to have a steady hand at the helm. Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz has demonstrated the leadership qualities city government needs to keep on the proper course.

Mientkiewicz has been in office since August, when the Democratic precinct committee members from Niles selected the former 2nd Ward councilman and teacher at the Rich Center for Autism at Youngstown State University to replace Mayor Thomas Scarnecchia, who had resigned unexpectedly.

Scarnecchia, a former city councilman, is credited with guiding the city to economic stability.

Mientkiewicz has been staying the course that was charted by his predecessor and council with guidance from the state’s Financial Planning and Supervision Commission.

These are challenging times for the city because there’s a natural tendency for decision-makers to run free now that the state’s financial shackles have been removed.

Indeed, Mientkiewicz’s challenger in the May 7 Democratic primary, Jimmy DePasquale, who served as Niles service director from January 2016 to February 2017, has said he will undo two key provisions in the recovery plan.

DePasquale, who had retired after 30 years in various Niles city departments but returned to be service director under Mayor Scarnecchia, told The Vindicator Editorial Board he wants to bring back the health and income-tax departments.

But Mayor Mientkiewicz told The Vindicator that would be a mistake. We agree.

Here’s the problem with most local governments in the Mahoning Valley: They have an aversion to change, even if it means that embracing the status quo is fiscally irresponsible.

As we have noted on countless occasions in this space, most of government’s operating budget is swallowed up by employees’ wages and benefits. Therefore, slashing the payroll is the only way to erase the red ink in the budget.

That’s the reason the health and income-tax departments were eliminated in Niles. The cost savings are significant – even though some residents may be inconvenienced.

DEPASQUALE’S CONTENTIONS

In his interview with The Vindicator, DePasquale contended that city government did not save a lot of money when it contracted with the Regional Income Tax Agency and eliminated three jobs.

On the other hand, Niles taxpayers have been deprived of convenient, personal service, he claimed. The closest RITA office is in Austintown.

DePasquale made the same argument about the Trumbull County Combined Health District replacing the city’s health department.

But Mayor Mientkiewicz pointed out that Niles is paying $39,000 a year to the combined health district, compared with the $332,000 it spent in 2014 on the city’s health department.

As for the income-tax program, the city spent $268,000 in 2017 operating its own department. In 2018, RITA cost $273,000 to handle income tax collections.

But here’s the kicker: For the $5,000 more, Niles increased income-tax collections by $600,000 in 11 months.

We would urge voters in the May 7 Democratic primary to think carefully about the future of the city as they contemplate this race.

The wounds from former Mayor Ralph Infante’s long and corrupt tenure in office are still fresh. Infante is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence.

The resignation of Scarnecchia came as a shock because he had begun to rebuild city government’s credibility and earn the public’s trust.

Mientkiewicz shares those goals.

“I want to continue to provide trust in government and hold Niles to a higher standard under my leadership,” he said in response to a question on The Vindicator’s candidate survey form.

“I want to work to upgrade our town’s infrastructure and stabilize our neighborhoods so that we retain and attract families. I would like to continue strong fiscal watch of taxpayer dollars and promote a culture that allows businesses to grow within the city,” he wrote.

The mayor deserves the opportunity to prove himself.

The Vindicator endorses Mientkiewicz for the Democratic nomination. No one filed to run in the Republican primary.