To the Victor Goes the Spoils

The City of Massillon is facing hard times.

The City is months behind on it's bills.

It still owes millions of dollars on the golf course and hotel, debt that won't be paid off for many years to come.

The dam at Reservoir Park is about to burst. Literally.

"It was given a first class hazard rating during the inspection, meaning that it poses a risk of "probable loss of human life" (The Independent, October 30, 2010).

Probable loss of human life.

The park system is in disrepair, because money from the .3% income tax passed by the residents of Massillon for parks and recreation has been hijacked to subsidize a failing golf course, and to purchase a restaurant with no business plan.

Our sewer rates have been increased, and now we have been hit with a 'Storm Water Utility Fee' (Thank you, Taxman Hersher).

This year alone, we owe over $524,000 for golf course debt, over $200,000 dollars for the mortgage at the Hampton Inn, and $52,000 to finish paying for the restaurant at the golf course.

The budget is unbalanced, and we don't have enough money to pay our police and fire fighters.

On the surface, one would think the city has been governed poorly.

One would be wrong, because the mayor, city council, the law director, auditor, treasurer, and council president are getting pay raises.

Unvoted pay raises.

Automatic pay raises.

Back on December 21, 1995, city council passed, and the mayor for life signed, an ordinance giving himself, council, law director, auditor, treasurer, and council president an annual, unvoted pay raise for life.

It doesn't require a vote.

It is open ended, meaning it goes on forever.

It is uncapped, meaning it has no ceiling, and is tied into the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

The city is broke. The economy is in shambles.

And Mayor Frank Cicchinelli just got a raise.

To the victor truly goes the spoils.

It is indeed good to be mayor for life.