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Do IT this week: Layering
In the plans: buyouts, no raises or new hires
By Stephanie Warsmith
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Saturday, Mar 14, 2009
Summit County is hoping to recoup about $5 million with buyouts, a hiring freeze, a shorter work week and no raises for some county employees this year.
These were among the plans Summit County Executive Russ Pry outlined Friday in his State of the County speech before a crowd of about 660 that filled the University of Akron's Martin University Center.
Pry said these steps ''will reduce the cost of doing business while keeping county employees available to provide the services that are needed now more than ever by our citizens.''
Pry said he will introduce legislation to County Council to:
• Establish a hiring freeze for 2009.
• Require a staffing report setting the number of positions in each job classification for the upcoming year. This number could not be exceeded.
• Forgo 3 percent raises for nonbargaining classified and unclassified employees this year. Employees who make less
than $24.04 an hour still would get a $500 cost-of-living stipend. (This would not apply to union employees, who would get contractual raises.)
• Extend a buyout offer to county employees. They would receive a one-time cash payment equal to 25 percent of the first $50,000 they earn and 5 percent on top of that. This would mean an employee making $50,000 would get $12,500.
''Projections show the county will recover any additional cost within one year and the savings will then continue throughout this economic downturn,'' Pry said.
The buyout offer is modeled after one extended to Dayton employees.
Pry said he also will issue an executive order giving employees the option of going to a 72-hour pay period — rather than 80 hours over two weeks — for a minimum of three months. This would not apply to union employees.
Pry said the changes are needed to return the county's budget to where it was in November. At that point, the county planned to dip into about $5 million in reserves to balance its budget. The shortfall is now expected to be about $10 million.
The reason is a plunge in the amount the county expects to receive from the state and a further decline in other revenue.
For example, county Finance and Budget Director Linda Phelps said the county's sales tax collection was down 7.5 percent in February compared to a year ago. In January, February and March, the county so far has taken in $600,000 less than over the same period last year.
The county's conveyance fee — earned on each property sale — was down nearly 50 percent in February compared to February 2008, Phelps said.
With the changes Pry is proposing, Phelps said it is the county's ''fondest hope'' to be able to save about $5 million. She is hoping this goal will be realized by August 2010. She said this type of savings ''is difficult to accomplish in one year.''
The reaction to Pry's plans appears to be favorable.
Tom Morneweck, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1229, said he thinks some of his members might be interested in the buyout offer.
''It probably will be enticing,'' said Morneweck, whose union represents about 600 county employees.
Morneweck is ''ecstatic'' the county isn't talking layoffs, which other counties and government entities are doing throughout the state.
''We're fortunate the county has a rainy-day fund,'' he said.
In other business, Pry discussed:
• Examining the county's Department of Environmental Services. He said the department will be realigned, renamed to ''Public Service'' and other divisions might be absorbed into it.
''Other departments may also undergo reorganization if we find a smarter and more cost-saving approach,'' he said.
• Possibly merging the county's and Akron's health departments. Pry said a committee soon will be formed to research this step, with Bill Considine, president of Akron Children's Hospital, serving as chairman.
• Examining early childhood education in Summit County. A group led by Pry and made up of local agencies that provide early childhood services will create an inventory of public and private programs for young children, look for gaps and draft a plan to address these needs.
At the end of Pry's 35-minute speech, he took a moment to tip his hat to Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic, who was sitting at the front table in the audience. Plusquellic is the subject of a campaign to remove him from office.
''This is going to be a critical fight for our community,'' said Pry, who urged the crowd to help with the anti-recall effort and to vote against the recall.
Citizens for Akron, the group fighting the recall, had fliers on each table in the Martin Center that read: ''Just say no to the recall. It's bad for your pocketbook and bad for Akron.''
''Thanks for what you do,'' Pry said to Plusquellic. ''You are a great leader and a great friend, and we will be there to make sure you get through this.''
The audience gave Plusquellic, who had tears in his eyes, a standing ovation.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.
Summit County is hoping to recoup about $5 million with buyouts, a hiring freeze, a shorter work week and no raises for some county employees this year.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Akron, OH
Posted 07:43 AM, 03/14/2009
I propose that all counsel people take a 100% pay cut for 2009. That includes Akron. They are part time positions after all, and ever-buddy knows that the politicians in those positions, are there for the public service, not the money.
Next all department heads to take a 20% decrease for 2009, that includes Pry and the city hall hero.
All necessary services, such as police fire, road maintenance, trash pick up, etc, will be maintained fully staffed. Savin's can be made by cuttin' back social programs, and tablin' all pet projects.
Once these items are implimented, they they can revue the budgets to see iff'n more cuts are needed.
Akron, OH
Posted 07:45 AM, 03/14/2009
OH, and the city hall hero havin' tears in his eyes??
The boy is overcome knowin' that he may finally be kicked off'n the gravy train.
akron, oh
Posted 09:03 AM, 03/14/2009
I think Plusquellic knows it is the end of the line. He has been caught red handed with his mits in the cookie jar, shame on him. Mendenhall is the least of his worries.
akron, oh
Posted 09:14 AM, 03/14/2009
Hey Rusty it is raining, Oh, you all ready used up the rainy day money in just a few months in office.
Rusty we know you have problems passing money to the Plusquellic campaign from the Summit County Democratic Party to pay Donny's campaign credit card bills for more of Donny's outlandish trips with the entourage in tow.
rootstown, oh
Posted 11:03 AM, 03/14/2009
if you idiotic politicians would look out the window,you would see that rome is burning.
Akron, Oh
Posted 11:52 AM, 03/14/2009
Nero is fiddling with his world travel, fine dining, and partying. Bully's cry when they are caught.
akron, oh
Posted 03:23 PM, 03/14/2009
Notice how all of Don's people have shut down because the Beacon is giving fair treatment.
The Bedacon pointed out Don was a cry baby and now they have issued a halt to posting.
Akron, OH
Posted 11:36 PM, 03/14/2009
I'm EXTREMELY disappointed that Russ Pry chose the State of the County Address to promote his personal position and agenda concerning the recall drive of The Don. As Executive of the ENTIRE county, his position in this matter should be voiced as 'private citizen' Pry, at a non-county venue. Russ Pry's performance has insured that he will never receive my vote again.
Akron, OH
Posted 10:42 AM, 03/16/2009
State of the County was NO place to promote the Mayor in the recall effort. Visit www.akronwatch.orh to see why the mayor DOES need recalled.
