By Matt Snyder
MERCER COUNTY — As Mercer County Commissioners seek to close an $800,000 gap in the budget, the Children and Youth Services employees have become the most receptive to a cost-saving proposal in which they would take unpaid days off.
Under the commissioners’ plan, county employees would take an unpaid day every pay period for five pay periods. If everyone did so, it would save $200,000, Commissioner John Lechner has said.
A majority of the CYS employees voted in favor of the plan, said Pennsylvania Social Services Union Steward Rob Draskovic. The final votes did not come in until after a meeting Wednesday.
The $800,000 budget gap is caused by a shortage of state money for CYS and because the county’s pension fund needs an infusion of cash thanks to poor performance on investments.
Commissioners have said they will try to avoid a tax hike, but would do what’s needed to keep the county fiscally afloat.
Draskovic said CYS employees are receptive to the unpaid days, and talk over how they’ll save some personnel costs is ongoing. Lechner has said nothing is official with any of the unions, representing county workers.
So far, United Steel Workers, representing the bulk of courthouse employees, and the Teamsters, representing the jail guards, have oppowed the furloughs.
Representatives of both unions have said they are open to continued talks, and the option for unpaid days is not a dead issue.
Lechner said commissioners have decided they will each take five unpaid days. Elected row officers have been asked to do the same, and as of Monday at least two had volunteered to do so, Lechner said.
The county is also willing to bargain with each union separately for a solution, Lechner said. Besides taking unpaid days, a number of options remain, including voluntary retirements or some form of layoffs.
“To me, layoffs are a last resort,” Lechner said, noting that paying for COBRA medical benefits for six months amounts to 65 percent of the cost of an employee who is still working.
Employees are concerned about the five unpaid days turning into 10, union heads have said. Others are worried layoffs could result even if they take the unpaid days.
