Audit? We Don't Need No Stinking Audit

Last October, Massillon City Council member Kathy Catazaro-Perry suggested that the City of Massillon have the State Auditor conduct a Performance Audit of Massillon's operations. The City was once again in a financial crunch, and Catazaro-Perry thought a thorough review of city finances and operations might be helpful. Mayor Cicchinelli stated that he had never had the State conduct a performance audit during his six terms as Mayor. Councilman Paul Manson, a reliable loyalist for the Mayor, accused Catazaro-Perry of "grandstanding" by asking for the audit. We can clearly see why calling for the Performance Audit of a financially stressed city would be seen as "grandstanding."

According to the Auditor of State, a Performance Audit;
provides a comprehensive report on the efficiency and effectiveness of a government agency or operation, offering recommendations for improvement and potential cost savings. This is achieved by comparing an entity's performance to benchmarks set by similar operations and peer-group standards. Results of a Performance Audit can be used to improve the effectiveness of operations, save taxpayer dollars, and make better use of existing resources.

Looks like grandstanding to us, all that ridiculous "saving taxpayer dollars" and making "better use of existing resources."

Catazaro-Perry has once again called for a Performance Audit. Mayor Cicchinelli's response to the Independent seemed to indicate his opposition by stating, "A Performance Audit is not necessary at this time." He then tells the Independent that he finds it "extremely interesting that Kathy Catazaro-Perry continues to push this issue."

The Massillon Review has a staff pool going. We pick the date that the City of Massillon declares its annual financial shortfall. Whoever is closest is the winner. Nobody took a date past August. Happens every year. We read the stories claiming "City will run out of money." If a Performance Audit is not necessary at this time, we wonder when it would be necessary? Our guess is that it won't be necessary until after the next Mayor's race. If everything is being run to high standards and at maximum efficiency, the State Auditor won't have any recommendations to make.

It is well known that our Mayor for Life and Kathy Catazaro-Perry are not BFFs. Our Mayor for life has been claiming for years that Catazaro-Perry is out to get him, because she wants to be Mayor, and you don't get to be Mayor for Life by having credible opponents. When Catazaro-Perry says the Pledge of Allegiance at council meetings, the Mayor probably believes it is a sly political maneuver. If our Mayor for Life claims something is political, we don't argue, as he is the Master Politician. We believe that the Performance Audit will die on the vines, as it was Kathy Catazaro-Perry's idea. Good idea, or bad idea, it gets dismissed because it was her idea.