(WOIO) -
When it comes to politics, you can be assured of the fact that some things never change.
When Cuyahoga County voters last year scrapped the old patronage-based system and adopted a new charter form of government, voters probably thought local government would become more efficient and less inclined to squander taxpayer money. And, new County Executive Ed Fitzgerald has been attempting to do just that - streamlining expenses and, heaven forbid, even trying to balance a 2012 budget.
But the new 11 member county council is eyeing some $200 million that Fitzgerald has put into the reserve fund and the money is burning a hole in their pockets. The council wants to dip into the fund and for what urgent purpose? Well, to pay for newsletters to constituents, increase salaries in the prosecutor's office, create a new consumer affairs department, and for a tidy half-million to study whether minorities are being treated fairly in county government.
Well, it turns out the new council is no different from the old political hacks who used to run the county, they see taxpayer money as a piggy bank to finance their own self-interests.
Write and let me know what you think. I'm Bill Applegate.
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