Work Smarter, Provide Better Services:
Government Cost & Performance
Results-Driven Approach Is Needed to Improve County Government
County Executive & Council Members Focus on Process & Meetings, NOT Results & Cost
​Jim Trutko: Business
Results-Driven Approach
I am a businessman and economic development professional with decades of private-sector experience. My career has focused on using data-driven analysis to drive high-stakes advocacy and business growth. I am running for Cuyahoga County Council (District 1) to apply this expertise toward three clear goals for county government: Work Smarter, Provide Better Services, and Grow Jobs.
Professional Track Record
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Economic Development & Advocacy: Served as Research Director and Director of Business Development for the Greater Cleveland Growth Association. Key achievements include retaining the DCASR Cleveland (1982), leading machine-tool studies for Great Lakes Governors, and briefing Mayor George Voinovich on industrial revitalization.
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National Policy Impact: Co-authored a seminal SBA franchising study that streamlined federal lending processes and helped establish the National Franchise Registry.
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Private Sector Leadership: Managed large-scale market research and advertiser strategy for The Plain Dealer and provided pro-bono strategic support for local municipal initiatives.
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Strategic Consulting: Developed performance models for cybersecurity firms and conducted competitive analysis for the Midwest travel and convention industry to boost Cleveland’s market share.
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Thought Leadership: Author of numerous economic analyses for Crain’s Cleveland Business and Cleveland Magazine.
County Executive & Council: Government/ Non-Profit Process-Driven Approach
The County Executive and County Council members have little business experience. The result is business management practices and entrepreneurial insights are not represented in budgeting, operational management or economic development plans. The standard governing response to every problem is to create a new department, spend more and add bodies.
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County Executive- Chris Ronayne – President of University Circle, Cleveland Chief of Staff, Chief Development Officer, & Planning Director.​
Council Members – Background Summary
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Dale Miller-Career in elected office; health‑center program evaluation & psychology.
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Martin J. Sweeney- Cleveland City Council and Ohio House
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Mark Casselberry- IBEW; labor union experience
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Michael Gallagher- Court administration and city council service.
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Meredith M. Turner — Government liaison roles
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Michael J. Houser, Sr. - Public administration and union advocacy.
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Patrick Kelly- Law enforcement; municipal council.
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Dr. Robert E. Schleper, Jr. - Education administration and teaching.
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Yvonne Conwell- Human services and family support.
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Pernel Jones, Jr.- Community Relations Director in family-owned funeral home.
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Sunny M. Simon- Private law practice
Cuyahoga County Property Tax Burden is Among Highest in Ohio
Cuyahoga Effective Rate At 2.085%, Highest of Major Ohio Counties
Recent Appraisal impacted Seniors, Increased Challenges & Burdened County Manpower
The effective property tax rate (Property Taxes/ Housing Value) in Cuyahoga is approximately 2.085%, which is the highest among several major counties in the state. This rate is significantly above the national average, contributing to a substantial tax burden for residents. The high rate is a significant negative factor affecting Cuyahoga County's economic development appeal.
Median House Value ($183,200)
X Effective Rate (2.085%) = Median Tax Burden ($3,819)
The recent appraisal, combined with Cuyahoga's high effective rates, led to significant increases in the amount of taxes to be paid each year. The increase led to many challenges and delinquencies as seniors and other on fixed incomes struggled to pay the increases.
For more information, read the PDF.
Cuyahoga County 8% Sales Tax is Among Highest in Ohio
Rep. Kelly Casts Crucial Vote to Extend 40-Year Sales Tax Extension Passes Without Voter Approval
Recent Sales Tax Collection Are Over $400 Million & Represent 23% of Total Operating Revenue
Cuyahoga County’s 8.0% sales tax is made up of Ohio’s statewide base rate: 5.75% and a local “piggyback” sales tax added by the county. The combined rate is one of the highest in Ohio, just below Franklin County’s 8.25% rate. It is substantially higher than nearby counties, which is a disincentive for shoppers and new homeowners.
In 2007, a 0.25% sales tax was approved for 20 years by the voters. Rather than let the sales tax expire in 2027, County Executive Ronayne proposed that council approve extending the existing 0.25% sales tax for 40 years. Instead of submitting the tax to a public vote, County Council narrowly approved the extension with a 6-5 vote after defeating several amendments. County Council Representative Kelly provided the deciding vote for a 40-year extension of a sales tax passed without voter approval.
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For more information, read the PDF.
Work Smarter: Continued Deficits Will Lead to Tax Increases & Service Cuts
Work Smarter to Trim Government: Audit Spending, Measure & Reward Results
Cuyahoga County's consistent All Funds deficits are indicators of poor financial health. Current budget trends and fiscal decisions highlight ongoing challenges that need to be addressed. The combination of budget cuts, reliance on reserves, and decreasing tax revenues paints a disturbing picture of the county's fiscal health. Addressing these challenges soon will be crucial for restoring financial stability and effectively serving the community.
​Work Smarter, Not Bigger: Ronayne's 510 Employee Surge Added an Estimated $42 Million to County Spending​ & Increased the Deficit
​Recently, Cleveland.com had a lengthy article asking whether employment growth of 510 employees in Cuyahoga County government under County Executive Ronayne was excessive. Based on an average cost of $63,500 per employee, the total cost of the additional employees was about $32 million. With additional 30% in benefits, the total cost was about $42 million.
Taxpayers deserve to know not only how much money is spent, but how the employees actually improved economic development, public safety, health and human services, and community well‑being.
Reviewing 2024 Cuyahoga County Revenue and Spending
Work Smarter: Audit Spending, Measure Results, Increase Efficiency
Cuyahoga County's 2024 Continued Poor Fiscal Management.
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2024 Revenues were about $1.7 Million or about $1,400 per capita.
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2024 Expenditures were $1.9 Million or $3,500 per capita.
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2024 Deficit was $227 Million.​
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​​Intergovernmental revenue was $481 million, about $400 per capita and $868 per household.
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Property taxes were $410 million, about $333 per capita and $740 per household.
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Sales taxes were $332 million, about $269 per capita and $568 per household.
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Expenditures exceeded revenues, $184 per capita and $408 per household.
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Human Services spending was $544.3 million, about 28% of total expenditures. Per capita Human Services spending was $441and nearly $1,000 per household, 6th highest among Ohio counties.
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Total Human Services spending in Cuyahoga County ranked #1 among Ohio counties.
For more information, read the PDF.
2024 Revenues
2024 Expenditures
Improve Infrastructure Quality: Roads and Bridges
The county's failure to deliver good results is exemplified by the roads and bridges public works projects. The results for the county show that the conditions of the area's roads and bridges are poorer than most areas in Ohio.
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In 2024, TRIP evaluation road and bridge conditions in Ohio's major cities and compared conditions to neighboring states. Key findings on the Cleveland/ Akron area are as follows:
​1. ROAD CONDITION: 35% of Cleveland/Akron's road were in poor condition, worst among Ohio's large cities and more than twice the state's average of 16%.
2. OPERATING COST IMPACT: Additional operating costs due to wear and tear on cars in Cleveland/ Akron was estimated at $727, compared to $524 statewide.
​​3. BRIDGE CONDITIONS: 137 (7%) of the Cleveland/ Akron's 1,852 bridges were in poor/structurally deficient condition , compared to 5% statewide. Hoever, many adjacent states had a higher percentage of bridges in poor condition.
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In addition to the higher operating costa and delays caused by poor roads and bridges, poor infrastructure handicaps the area's abilty to attract jobs.
Cuyahoga County Government: Spending More & You're Getting Less
Taking the Mystery Out of AI & Capturing Its Potential
For many people, the growth of AI is a threatening phenomena which can disrupt the job market and derail careers. As a user of AI, I see the tremendous potential of AI to increase entrepeneurship and productivity. Like many new inventions of the past (such as steam engines, tractors,cars, cell phone and couputers) that eventually led to widespread prosperity, there may be some disruptions, but I support policies in Cuyahoga County that will position the county to be in the forefront of the AI evolution and to capture great benefits.
As an illustration of AI's potential as a time-saver for members of the public who haven't used AI, I asked AI to provide a concise summary of my views on government in the section.
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Here's How AI Summarizes Jim Trutko's Views On Government
​​The Government page of Jim Trutko’s campaign site focuses on analyzing government cost and performance in Cuyahoga County. He argues that residents are "spending more and getting less" due to high taxes and inefficient spending.
His primary focus for reform is Spending Less and Restoring Fiscal Responsibility, which includes the following key points:
​Tax Burden & Oversight
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High Sales Tax: He highlights that Cuyahoga’s 8% sales tax is among the highest in Ohio. He specifically criticizes the 40-year extension of a 0.25% sales tax that was passed by the County Council without a public vote.
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Property Tax: He notes that the county's effective property tax rate of 2.085% is the highest among major Ohio counties, creating a significant burden for seniors and those on fixed incomes.
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Voter Approval: Trutko advocates for a policy where all future tax increases must be put to a vote of the people.
Spending & Efficiency
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Budget Concerns: He points out that total expenditures ($1.9 billion) exceeded revenues ($1.7 billion) in 2024, resulting in a deficit. Continued deficits can have a potentially catastrophic long-term effect.
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Departmental Audits: He proposes a state performance audit of human services and the Sheriff’s Department to identify inefficiencies.
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Manpower & Facilities: Trutko suggests a comprehensive review of the county’s 7,200 employees and its 5.8 million square feet of facility space to identify areas for restructuring or trimming.
Serve Better: Public Safety & Infrastructure
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Resource Allocation: He emphasizes that safety-related activities account for nearly half of the county workforce and 67% of general fund expenditures, necessitating stronger management.
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Infrastructure Ratings: He cites data showing that nearly half of the highways in the Metro Cleveland area are ranked in "poor" condition, highlighting a need for better multi-government coordination on maintenance.
Restore Fiscal Discipline & Spend Less: Measure Results & Re-assess Departmental Manspower Needs
Cuyahoga County Government Employed 7,000 to 7,200 from 2020 to 2025
County government employment reflects key role in handling public safety.and delivering human services. Any effort to control spending must deal overall performance, complex manpower needs and contracts in many departments.
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Public safety, including the sheriff, the courts and the law department, totals 3,450 FTE's.
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Human services employment is 2,374 FTE's.
For more information, read the PDF.
Spend Less: Re-Evaluate County Government Facilities
Cuyahoga County Government Facilities - 5.8 Million Square Feet & $1.1 Billion
Note: 2022 Data. More recent data may be available.
Justice & Public Safety in Cuyahoga County Is Key Public Priority
Maintaining public safety is a fundamental responsibility of local government. All justice & public safety activities represented about 57% of all public administration employment & 64% of wages. Police represented about 46% of justice and safety employment and wages.
County Government Expenditures on Security
The Cuyahoga County government spends at least $419 million (30%) of its $1.4 billion annual budget on safety-related programs. Most people are aware of the county sheriff and prosecutor, the county courts and jail, but the county also has crime-related spending for health & human services. About 3,400 (47%) of the county's 7,200 full-time employees are tied to safety-related activities.
Providing High-Quality Infrastructure:
What is the condition of Metro Cleveland's roadways?
Almost half of the highways in Metro Cleveland (Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties) were ranked as poor by a national highway research group, TRIP. The area was ranked 48th out of 70 metro areas.
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Part of the problem is that different levels of government- local, county, state and federal- are responsible for maintenance and repair. It's often difficult to determine which government is responsible for the roadway's condition.
For more information, read the PDF.
Is Cleveland a Well-run City? (If Not, the County Must Be Well-Run.)
Delivering Good, Cost-Effective Services:
In 2025, WalletHub evaluated the quality of governance in US cities based on seven standard criteria. Cleveland ranked 133rd overall, ranking 118th in budget per capita and 132nd in the qualtiy of city services.
Cleveland ranked last among the six Ohio cities in the research, and ranked 14th of 18 Midwestern cities in the ranking. Cleveland's poor-ranking makes it even more important that Cuyahoga County's government be well-managed if area resident are toenjoy a high quality-of-living.
For more information, read the PDF.
