TRUMBULL County hires 4 new workers

Other departments are short even more workers.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A looming budget crisis and the possibility of layoffs have not deterred Trumbull County commissioners from hiring four new maintenance workers.
Commissioners voted to hire Rex Thomas and Jim Belcastro to entry-level jobs with the department Thursday. Former Warren Fire Chief James Nutt and Cathy Seagraves were hired to entry-level maintenance jobs two weeks ago.
County Administrator Tony Carson said the new employees are necessary to keep up with repairs at the growing stock of county-maintained buildings, which now includes the new agricultural center in Cortland, the 911 center, veterans service office and office of elderly affairs.
Even with the hires, the building maintenance department is still five people short of its optimal level, Carson said. The department had 25 employees before layoffs earlier this year.
"There are four more buildings that need repair on a daily basis, and they are still doing it with five less people," Carson said.
Between salary and benefits, the four new employees will cost taxpayers more than $100,000 next year, officials said. Payroll and benefits was about $447,000 a year for the building maintenance department before the new hires.
Financial crisis
"I don't know where they are going to get the money," said Auditor David Hines, whose office projects that the county commissioners will have to trim their budget by at least $5 million next year. "I don't know how they are going to pay these people. I don't think it would be advisable, from a financial standpoint."
The pending financial crisis results from the expiration of a 0.5 percent county sales tax imposed by commissioners last year, and defeat at the polls of a measure to continue the tax. Officials say another round of layoffs early next year is a good possibility. The new maintenance workers would likely be at the top of the list.
"They are well aware of it," said human resources director Jim Keating. "We clearly talked to them about that, believe me."
If the new employees are laid off, the county will be responsible for paying their unemployment.
Good idea?
Commissioner Dan Polivka said he believed hiring the workers was a good idea, despite the possibility of a quick layoff. They will earn $8.93 an hour, which goes up to $9.49 after the first six months.
"The workers are definitely needed to keep the buildings in safe, clean condition," he said.
Many departments have been short of employees since layoffs earlier this year. The auditor's office also is down by five people, and the sheriff's department is down by even more.
Allowing the condition of buildings to deteriorate would cost taxpayers more money in the long run than hiring the workers now, Commissioner Joseph J. Angelo said.
"It would be ridiculous for us not to keep the buildings up," Angelo said. "It would be a waste of taxpayer money."
siff@vindy.com