Wayne budget calls for small increase

County positions will be eliminated

By TOM KANE

HONESDALE, PA — Reluctantly, the Wayne County Commissioners announced that the 2010 budget calls for the elimination of five full-time and three part-time positions. It also contains a .4 increase in millage. The millage increase would see a $40 yearly increase for a home assessed at $100,000.

The total spending plan for 2010 is $28,798,811.88, a four percent reduction over the 2009 budget, or $1.3 million. Last year’s 2008 budget experienced a $500,000 reduction.

Besides personnel cuts, the budget contains some general operating reductions. “Since more and more state funding to the counties is reduced or severely delayed, those expenses must be absorbed at the local level,” said county business manager John Haggarty.

“We are presenting a budget today that reflects hours of discussion and analysis, which resulted in a decision to increase taxes only after consultation, cutbacks and all alternative funding sources were explored,” said Brian Smith, commissioners’ chairman.

Several full-time positions are not being filled due to retirements. The budget does not contain an across-the-board raise for county employees.

“Many insurance programs and outside professional services were re-bid this year, resulting in considerable general fund savings,” Haggarty said.

Cuts and funding delays from the Commonwealth include more than $200,000 in reimbursements to the county for court and criminal justice functions, across-the-board reductions in all human service categories and severe delays in recycling grant program funding, he said.

The positions being eliminated include: one full-time position in the commissioners’ office, which is currently staffed by a retiree, one position in the treasurer’s office, which was vacant due to retirement, a Weights and Measures position, which is being picked up by the state, and the elimination of a position at the switch board, which will be automated. A full-time deputy in the Sheriff’s office will be cut; a full-time position in the Department of Aging will be eliminated; one person in the 911 office will be eliminated; one full-time position in the recycling program is gone; one position in the district attorney’s office, which is vacant due to retirement, will not be replaced; and three part-time positions in the program to battle West Nile Virus will be cut.

With the bad news about the upcoming budget announced earlier this year, departments had already began to cut back.

“It is a difficult time to make these adjustments and to have to raise taxes, but we had to do it,” Smith said.

This is a proposed budget, a version of which must be adopted by December 23. A copy of the budget can be viewed on the county website at www.co.wayne.pa.us/files/2010_County_Budget.pdf and is available for examination in the commissioners’ offices for 20 days.