Deficit turns up lower than projected

The anticipated deficit is $110,000 less than previously stated.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Judge Michael Bernard says the Girard Municipal Court's year-end deficit will not be as high as previously thought, but at least one official is hoping it can be lowered even further.
Judge Bernard, earlier this year, predicted that the court would be in a $250,000 deficit by the end of the year. He said the actual figure will likely be about $140,000.
According to Judge Bernard, the $250,000 prediction was based on projected hospitalization and workers' compensation figures for the court that were higher than the actual costs for court employees and higher projected costs for postage in the court than actually used.
Judge Bernard said the city lumps workers' compensation payments together and various departments pay an average for employees. He said the cost for a court employee is actually less than that of employees in other departments, such as police and fire, and the court should be responsible only for the actual costs of court employees.
A similar situation, the judge said, exists with the hospitalization costs.
Judge Bernard has figured the actual costs for court employees.
Postage fees
Regarding postage, the court was expected to use $24,000 in postage, but used only about $16,000, he said.
The court was appropriated about $800,000 for the year. Judge Bernard said the court will actually spend about $810,000.
The court, being self-sufficient, was expected to make, through fines and fees, the $800,000 it was appropriated. Judge Bernard said the court will likely fall short of that goal by about $130,000. The $10,000 overage and $130,000 shortfall are what make up the projected $140,000 expected deficit.
"Unless something drastic happens between now and the end of the year, and I don't see that happening, I think we are going to be short that money," he said.
Hoping it drops
Councilman-at large Joseph Christopher is hoping to get that $140,000 figure down to about $100,000. The councilman said money can be diverted from other funds to lower the deficit.
According to Christopher, the court maintains a probationary fund and computer fund out of fines paid to the court. He said the court has about $94,000 in the probationary fund to pay probation department employees and about $84,000 in a computer fund to pay a computer technician and buy needed computer software and upgrades.
The councilman has asked Judge Bernard to divert any available cash from those two funds to the general fund, but said he understands that salaries still must be paid out of those two funds for the rest of the year. He said the judge did give $125,000 from the two funds to the general fund two years ago in an effort to help the cash-strapped city.
"If he can do it, I am sure he will," Christopher said.
jgoodwin@vindy.com