TRUMBULL COUNTY MRDD board OKs $1.2M in cutbacks

Instead of laying off employees, the board decided not to fill 11 vacancies.
BY REBECCA SLOAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- The Trumbull County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities has pared down its 2001 budget by approving more than $1.2 million in cuts.
Superintendent Doug Burkhardt said this morning he was happy to report employee layoffs are not included in the cutbacks.
"There was a lot of concern among our employees that there would be layoffs, but we are making every effort to avoid that. We anticipate another phase of cuts in the future, but we are trying to make sure there will be no layoffs in that phase, either," he said.
Burkhardt said the board worked with management, employees and parents of students enrolled in MRDD programs to ensure that reasonable solutions could be reached.
Workers' concerns: Burkhardt said about 100 employees attended Monday night's meeting, and many expressed concern that they might be losing their jobs.
The board approved an $18.5 million budget in December, an amount that was more than $1.7 million greater than its projected revenues of about $17 million.
Burkhardt said the deficit was because of rising health insurance costs for employees and a reduction in the number of client services covered by Medicaid.
Instead of layoffs, the board chose not to fill 11 vacant positions within the agency. These positions include assistant superintendent, human resources director, account clerk, data entry clerk and special projects administrator.
Estimating savings: Burkhardt said the MRDD will save $650,000 in 2001 by not filling these positions.
Burkhardt also said the board plans to save about $434,000 by canceling two consulting contracts and five outside contracts.
"We haven't gone public with which contracts these are because we haven't yet notified the individuals who will be affected," he said.
Other cuts include cost reduction on supplies and materials, which will bring an estimated savings of about $98,000; directing costs outside the general fund, which will save about $61,000; and containing other miscellaneous costs to save about $32,000.