By Matt Snyder
MERCER COUNTY — Mercer County sheriff’s department is so far the only group of county employees to confirm their participation in pay cuts aimed at reining in the county’s financial woes.
Deputies voted in favor of a 3 percent pay cut, said Dick Arthur, a representative of the United Steel Workers union. Pay cuts have been part of a plan by county commissioners aimed at cutting $200,000 in personnel costs.
An article in Wednesday’s Herald mistakenly said deputies and other department employees voted against the measure. The Herald was given incorrect information.
The county’s five bargaining units consist of jail personnel with the Teamsters, Children and Youth Services workers with Pennsylvania Social Services Union, and the Sheriff’s Department, 911 Center, and courthouse staff employees in the United Steel Workers. Within the USW, each group bargains separately.
Commissioners want each of the five bargaining units to take either pay cuts or five unpaid days off to make up for the county’s cash-strapped finances.
Children and Youth Services had voted tentatively in favor of taking five unpaid days before, but Commissioner John Lechner said their final answer is not expected until today.
The 911 workers, courthouse staffers, and jail personnel all decided not to reopen their contracts, which Lechner said would prevent all of the cost-cutting measures proposed by commissioners except one: “Where we’re at is layoffs.”
Some employees opposed the measure because they feared commissioners would lay off employees either way. Commissioners have been unable to rule out layoffs and have hinted they might even be necessary depending on what kind of budget the state passes this year.
Lechner said non-union employees would also participate in efforts to cut personnel costs. Elected officials are expected to take the 3 percent pay reduction.
Pay cuts among deputies and administrative staff — who number 14 employees — are expected to save $11,000 to $12,000, said Sheriff Bill Romine.
CYS workers have 21 employees and the remaining three bargaining units have a total of 134 employees, according to data from county information officer Jeff Greenburg.
The county is trying to save money for two reasons, Lechner said. First, this year’s budget has an $800,000 hole caused by a cuts in so-called state “pass-through” money to CYS and losses in the county’s pension investments that have to be made up by taxpayers.
Second, he said the state’s still unfinished budget might take a bigger bite out of next year’s pass-through money. Lechner said it’s possible the state will finance its $3.2 billion deficit without passing more costs on to the county, but he wasn’t optimistic.
Until the state finishes its budget, Commissioner Kenneth Ammann said commissioners can’t say what they would do about layoffs.
Commissioners were mum on where layoffs would occur, though Ammann hinted it would be harder to lay off 911 operators or jail guards.
