Issue 20 & 21 bosses provide insight on levies

We just finished taping tonight's edition of NewsNight Akron. Executive Director John Saros from CSB and Executive Director Don Davies from the ADM board surrendered to the hot seat for some straight-forward questions about the levies .. and what they really mean.

Tonight's taping airs at 9 p.m. and replays at 5 a.m. Saturday for you late-night folks ...

While voters can get lost in the numbers game -- the issue numbers, the levy amounts, the # of dollars raised, etc ... -- what I think most voters want to know is "what positive will come if I agree to give up this money?"

In Saros' case, I think most voters want him to explain what happens at the Case Worker level that will better serve the thousands of kids involved with CSB? Will those over-worked, blue-collar, hands-on warriors get more tools? a lighter case load? a better plan for success?

I appreciated Saros' candor in that case workers should expect that if Issue 21 passes, the case loads can at least remain static. That if they have 13-15 cases right now, they can expect that number to hold in place. What's really at stake, at least in my take from Saros' comments, is that if the levy fails, case workers will be let go, and those who remain will be overwhelmed with additional families. Still, Saros is positive about where the agency is headed -- provided that these dollars are approved by the voters.

I still wonder how the two issues will play side-by-side on the ballot. Passing one issue is tough enough; asking for money on two county-wide issues at once is an even bigger challenge.

Hopefully, viewers will use tonight's broadcast to be better informed on 20 and 21 heading to the polls. There's a lot more riding on this duo than just dollars and sense.