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Reducing council size makes sense

Warren elected leaders should set an example in cost-cutting by reducing the number of ward council members.

Under the argument presented by Councilman John Brown Jr., council’s size would be reduced from 10 members to seven. While at-large members would remain at three, Brown proposes cutting ward council posts from seven to four.

It just makes sense.

Not only would the proposal save money – about $34,000 a year – it could show that government can go the way of private industry by doing more with less.

For example, Brown recently pointed out that over the course of his professional career, his former employer – a local steel maker – had cut its work force from 650 to 250, but still managed to operate efficiently and actually do more work with fewer workers.

For some reason, most private businesses have grasped this concept, yet governmental entities do not.

It’s true that Warren has been looking for ways to consolidate services and cut fat from the budget. Among other things, city leaders have been exploring the possibility of eliminating the city’s 911 dispatch service and instead merge it with the Trumbull County system in Howland. Council also voted recently to eliminate three ranking police officer positions in an effort to reduce spending.

These are all steps in the right direction. But more can be done.

Councilman Larry Larson opposed the idea pointing out that it would make council’s job of representing constituents harder. But more government doesn’t translate into better government.

And the fact of the matter is that Warren is shrinking, not growing.

For instance, 25 years ago in 1990, the city had a population of 50,890, according to U.S. Census figures. In 2010 that figure had dropped to 41,557, and 2013 estimates had the city’s population at 40,768, down more than 10,000 residents or about 20 percent.

If Larson believes cutting three members of council is too many, then perhaps a compromise can be met by cutting two, which is 20 percent, to mirror the population reduction.

Cutting the size of council would indicate to all city workers that their elected leaders are willing to make the same hard decisions that they are asking of their labor unions in doing what’s right to save taxpayer money.

Brown is adamant he will work hard to put the measure on an upcoming ballot.

His proposal is on the mark and discussions should continue in an attempt to garner council support to cut its size.

editorial@tribtoday.com

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