Saturday, April 2, 2011

(VIDEO) SCPR CANTON MAYORAL SERIES - BILL SMUCKLER - PART III: SMUCKLER HAS A PLAN TO INCREASE POLICE & FIRE PRESENCE IN CANTON?


In this "Smuckler - part III" of the Stark County Political Report series on the mayoralty campaign underway in Canton, Stark County's county seat, Councilman-at-Large William Smuckler outlines his plan for restored fire and police personnel to Canton's workforce.

The SCPR has been critical of Mayor William J. Healy, II for using a "smoke and mirrors approach" to financing safety force manpower.

In the current Canton budget projects, Healy has adopted the "creative" budgeting methodologies of Massillon Mayor Francis H. Cicchinell, Jr in not fully funding police and fire operations for the full fiscal year in the "hope and prayer" that the needed monies will somehow materialize.  After all, they always have.

Also, Healy has persuaded Canton City Council (Council) to allow a portion of an allocation of money set aside (by agreement with the voters, when Canton's income tax was instituted) for capital improvements to be moved to funding of safety force obligations.

Lastly, the Healy administration has prevailed on Council to borrow (in an accounting "fast-step" fashion) from capital improvements for the funding of some city operations.

So The Report is to be seen in the accompanying video to get Smuckler to detail how many police and fire he wants to add and to specify exactly where to money is coming from to fund the new positions he says he intends on added if he elected mayor.

Although Smuckler's plan is a lot more solid in approach than Healy's, The Report is skeptical that Smuckler is going to be able to add significantly to the manpower of Canton's police and fire on the financial basis he envisions.

Take a look.


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