LAWRENCE COUNTY EMPLOYEES Unpaid days off loom in cost cuts

Commissioners consider closing offices for a few days till the end of the year.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County commissioners are considering giving employees an unpaid day off as soon as Friday.
Commissioner Steve Craig said a formal discussion is planned for today's meeting. He that said Friday likely wouldn't be the only day off without pay employees would be asked to take this year.
Saving money
Commissioners are looking for ways to save money to close a year-end deficit that could be greater than the projected $1.3 million funding gap announced earlier this year.
Craig said the county general fund has about $8.1 million and the county must repay $7.7 million for its tax anticipation note -- a loan taken out in January to fund county operations until tax money starts coming in -- by the end of the year.
Commissioners fear they will be unable to meet the next six county payrolls, which average about $500,000 each.
Craig said shutting down county operations is just one option being considered. He said they are also considering layoffs, a hiring freeze and taking remaining money from various accounts to stop spending.
Commissioner Dan Vogler said he is also considering those options.
Anticipated savings
Craig said closing all offices, except the county jail and 911 center and having employees on call for agencies such as Children and Youth Services, are expected to save about $25,000 each day. He said they could have as few as two days and as many as four days without pay through the end of the year.
"It certainly doesn't close the gap, but it's something," Craig said.
But commissioners will have to deal with the county's labor unions before they can close county operations.
Labor contract
Bob Session, representative for Construction & amp; General Labors Union 964, said county employees in his labor union have a contract that states they are to work five days a week, 40 hours each week.
Local 964 represents employees in adult probation, juvenile probation, domestic relations, the sheriff's office, county jail, register and recorder's office, prothonotary's office, district attorney's office, public defender's office, law library and district magistrate's offices.
Session said he has been asked to meet with county officials. A date has not been set yet, he said.
Session said he intends to let the county employees decide whether they will accept any plan to close county operations. He said the county can lay off employees without the union's consent.
"It's a question with employees,'' Session said, adding it will be up to them to decide whether they want to have some shortened work weeks until the end of the year or have layoffs.
Dan Grove, representative for American Federation of State, Municipal and County Employees Local 2902, could not be reached to comment.
cioffi@vindy.com