Thanks to spending cuts, Wayne 2009 budget reflects a decrease

By TOM KANE

HONESDALE, PA — For the first time in recent memory, a county government is presenting a budget with a decrease in spending.

“These are especially hard times and we don’t want to put any more burdens on our taxpayers,” said Brian Smith, Chairman of the Wayne County Commissioners, at the December 10 meeting when the budget was presented.

“It wasn’t easy,” said county business manager John Haggarty. “With the cooperation of all elected officials and department heads, all departments were cut 10 percent in their materials and supplies budget.” All department heads were asked to work with their current staff and not to replace any vacancies or to ask for additional staff, he said.

The decrease, which is set at 1.7 percent less than last year’s budget, amounts to $531,300. That puts the 2009 total county budget at $30,106,064.60. No programs will be cut and no personnel will be let go.

How’d they do it, apart from sweating the department heads?

“With the opening of our new correctional facility, our costs [of housing inmates] have decreased $220,600,” Haggarty said. “Added savings were also realized with the decrease of boarding [female] prisoners going from actual expenditures of $332,000 to $30,000.”

The mileage reimbursement for gasoline has been reduced with the cost of gas going down and travel is allowed only as needed, he said.

But, there’s a possible hitch.

“CCAP [County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania] is warning us that another round of cuts will be passed by the governor and the legislature,” Smith said. “If the cuts will be considerable, we will have to adjust our budget accordingly.”

One of the problems with county budgeting is that the county budget and the state budgets are scheduled at divergent times. The state budget ends on June 30 while the county budget matches the yearly calendar.

“It’s hard for us to plan a firm budget,” said Commissioner Wendell Kay.

The budget, which will be on display at the county courthouse and on the county website at www.co.wayne.pa.us, must be approved by December 31, 2008.