Office resumes old business hours

The recorder says commissioners gave him 'a very fair budget' for 2006.
By DEBORA SHAULIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County Recorder Ronald V. Gerberry says his office will usher in the new year by returning to its old hours.
Beginning Tuesday, the recorder's office will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The department is responsible for all records pertaining to land ownership.
The recorder's office had been closing at noon each day since April 25 because of 2005 budget cuts that forced Gerberry to lay off employees. His general fund budget had fallen from $630,000 in 2001, which was the year Gerberry became auditor, to $459,000 in 2005.
Gerberry asked for $618,000 next year. County commissioners approved a $51.9 million budget Thursday and gave the recorder's office $606,000.
"That's a very fair budget when you consider the circumstances the county faces," Gerberry said.
That amount of money won't enable Gerberry to recall any more laid-off workers, but it will maintain his staffing levels in order to resume full-time office hours. The recorder's office currently has eight full-time employees.
"We're going to do our best to make it work," Gerberry said.
Hour specifics
While the office will be open to the public until 4:30 p.m., no documents will be recorded after 3 p.m., Gerberry said. Copies of records can be obtained anytime during office hours, he added.
The recorder's office will be open during the lunch hour because employees will stagger their breaks, Gerberry said.
Gerberry had been supplementing his budget with user fees that his office collects as documents are filed. The state Legislature established user fees in 1992 for technology and equipment upgrades, as well as maintenance of records.
Gerberry said he spent more than $200,00 in user fees this year to pay for computer operations, copy machine leases and other equipment while the county grappled with fiscal problems. He told commissioners that he wanted to limit user fee expenditures on routine needs to $100,000 next year.
User fees will be spent to create a room for lease documents that will be more accessible to the public, Gerberry said.
shaulis@vindy.com