Issues and Accomplishments

• Working towards a lean and effective local government: Commissioner Scott Wiggam believes government should live within its means just as citizens do every day. Scott has worked to keep government spending from increasing since 2005. Since sales taxes were last increased in 1993, local government spending grew an average of 7% every year until 2005. That is a growth that is 4% faster than inflation. Controlling spending increases while rejecting tax increases allows citizens to keep more of their hard earned money and Scott will continue to work towards effective spending and not raising your taxes.

• Creating a business-friendly environment. Scott fulfilled a campaign promise by forming a task force of representatives from Wayne County businesses in order to create a more business-friendly environment within local government policy. From input of the task force, Commissioner Wiggam successfully authored the county’s Enterprise Zone Guideline update which encourages local and new business growth and investment, helping to create more, higher paying jobs in Wayne County.

• Supporting our agricultural base. Scott worked to implement Wayne County’s Agricultural Security Areas which helps farmers protect their assets and increase their financial bottom line.

• Increasing recycling, a cleaner environment: Scott has helped to secure solid waste district grant funds which have led to an increase in recycling by 13% since 2004. Scott also worked to secure over $100,000 of district funds which aided Wooster’s storm clean-up effort.

• Saving tax dollars through good business decisions: As the county’s representative for our property and loss insurance, Scott aggressively moved the county to a new “pooled” insurance plan which saved the county’s treasury $59,000 in it first year while maintaining the same standards of coverage for county property. Future projected savings, based on current “loss experience”, are approximately $120,000 per year.

• Healthier employees with a lower cost: Scott worked to implement the county’s wellness program which benefits over 900 local government employees and their families. Statistics show that such initiatives have reduced employees’ risk of disease and have increased the overall health of the workforce. Ultimately the county’s wellness program will reduce health care costs and save taxpayer dollars.

• Worked to secure over 6 million dollars to rebuild the county’s public infrastructure. Scott has worked with other local officials to successfully secure over six million dollars in state grants and low interest loans to help rebuild public infrastructure (roads, bridges, water and sewer lines) in Wayne County’s cities, villages and townships.