'Lip service' in response to rallying and protests

CSB hears complaints from across the street -- expected cuts, potential layoffs protested
About 150 rally on eve of child-card agency meeting where cutbacks likely to be approved
Kymberli Hagelberg, Akron Beacon Journal, Oct. 24, 2006, Metro pg B1.

About 150 local residents, county child-care workers and community leaders attended a lunchtime rally Monday to voice their concerns about potential layoffs and budget cuts at Summit County Children Services.

The gathering was the latest in a series of protests from community groups who have criticized the agency for dismissing its former executive director, hiring outside legal and public relations help and giving the new agency chief a $27,000 raise to make her pay equal that of the dismissed agency chief.

The meeting drew speakers from Summit County Council, religious leaders, former agency workers and union officials.

Speakers shouted their comments through bullhorns at the rally across the street from the agency's South Akron headquarters.

Attendees objected to proposed cuts the agency has said it will make if a levy is not passed before the current one expires at the end of 2007.

When the levy expires, Children Services will have a $19 million surplus. Agency Finance Director Gary Binns has told the board it will face a $10 million to $12 million deficit by the end of 2008 without reductions in expenses.

Agency leaders have met in closed sessions to discuss potential layofffs, but have not been specific in public about the cutbacks.

However, a draft of the proposed budget, which is expected to be approved at tonight's meeting, calls for $823,000 in wage and benefit cuts.

"It doesn't look good," Rose Juriga, vice chairwoman of the group Coalition for the Children, said after the rally. "These cuts will hurt the care of kids and the mission of the agency. The budget is just a guillotine over the heads of the public to get a levy passed. There is no looming financial doomsday."

Katerina Papas, the CSB chief operating officer/acting executive director, was not at the agency yesterday afternoon and did not attend the rally. The agency released a written statement of support for the rally.

"We are gratified that so many individuals and groups share our goal of helping children," Papas said in the statement. "In fact, we are encouraged by the community's interest in helping us achieve our mission of serving the abused and neglected children of Summit County. We are faced with serious budget decisions, and we value the support and input of our employees and the community at large."

Juriga called the statement "sad. If she and the agency were so supportive, they would make themselves available for dialogue," she said. "Instead, they write a press release and otherwise turn a deaf ear."

Karen Leith, director of the interfaith group Call to Renewal, said the rally was held because the agency has refused numerous attempts to meet with the groups or to hold public hearings on the budget. "This was the only way we could lift our voices," Leith said.

County Council members held the agency's levy proposal off the November ballot because the group thought public support for the $33 million issue was unlikely. To make it on a special ballot in February, CSB would need to vote on its own budget tonight and have approval of the council no later than Nov. 27. Other special elections are possible in May and August.

Five county council members attended and spoke at the rally. Cazzell Smith, D-5, Akron, said the public would have a chance to have its say when the Children Services budget is presented to the council.

Nick Kostandaras, D-1, Richfield, said he would not support a budget that included layoffs and unfairly targeted union employees.

"The whole board should step down if is not up to doing its job, which is regaining public trust and operating in a way that is open to the public," Kostandaras said. "If they want to make financial cuts, they should start at the top."

The Children Services Board Resources Committee meets at 3 p.m. today to discuss details of the proposed budget, and will vote on the measure in its regular meeting at its full board meeting at 5:30 p.m. Both sessions at agency headquarters, 264 S. Arlington St., are open to the public.