This past year an investigation of public records conducted by the Plain Dealer found numerous past and present Board of Revision members had had the value of their own properties reduced, lowering their tax bills.
Fitzgerald told reporters Thursday that the revisions function is fundamental to local government and touches everybody from property owners to business owners and school districts, and corruption has run so deep that all 15 board members must either resign or be fired - and there would be no exceptions.
"Some of these individuals have been accused of misconduct in office, and that's been widely reported," Fitzgerald says, "Some of them, in contrast, have rendered excellent service. But unfortunately the level of dysfunction has reached such a pitch that only a total housecleaning can restore the public trust."
That shakeup comes on top of multiple layoffs approved by Auditor David reines, and one firing for cause. Thirteen part-time staff in the Auditor's office, and three full-time employees in the Department of Weights and Measures will be let go December 3rd, and their positions eliminated. Four full time positions that have been vacated through resignations and retirements are also being eliminated, as is the position of Web Administrator.
The downsizing is expected to save the county just under a million dollars, Fitzgerald said, which will help reduce a projected budget deficit. The positions were created by former county Auditor Frank Russo, who pleaded guilty in September to 21 counts of corruption including bribery and tax fraud.
Fitzgerald said the staffing changes conform to the recommendations of a state audit released last summer that said Russo's office was over-staffed and many employees overpaid. And he warned of similar changes to come as the new government takes shape. "This isn't the end in terms of efficiencies and reductions, it's the beginning," he says. "It's unusual that we're able to announce before we even take office. But trust me, there's going to be a lot more reductions and efficiency and right-sizing to come."
Fitzgerald added his administration will consider the questionable practice of double-dipping. that's when a public employee retires and is then hired back to the same position, allowing him to collect both a salary and pension.
Bill Rice, 90.3