Gus Chan, The Plain DealerDonors to former County Auditor Frank Russo received more than $1.8 million on their property taxes. Russo has pleaded guilty to taking more than $1 million in bribes over 10 years and will serve more than 21 years in prison.

Many of the people who contributed to former Cuyahoga County Auditor Frank Russo's election campaigns also went to his office in search of tax breaks -- and got them.

They received hundreds, thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars off their tax bills thanks to reduced property valuations, a Plain Dealer analysis of campaign-finance reports and county records has found.

At least 359 of Russo's campaign donors received reductions, saving them or their business interests more than $1.8 million in property taxes, according to the findings.

Nearly half of Russo's most generous supporters, who contributed $1,000 or more between 2003 and 2009, have received discounts. Scores of other cases are still pending.

This contrasts with fewer than 10 percent of properties countywide that received reductions during that period.

"Sounds like there's some connection," said Henry Eckhart, a good-government watchdog with the Common Cause Ohio advocacy group in Columbus. "You've got to think that."

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/11/frank_russos_campaign_donors_g.h...

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