Officials weigh fund request by sheriff

Another budget adjustment may be needed at year’s end.

WARREN — Trumbull County commissioners took under advisement the request by the sheriff’s department for $449,941 more to finish out the year.

County Auditor Adrian Biviano said the sheriff’s department has spent “about the amount estimated” this year, and that the county’s finances will allow for the additional amount.

“We budgeted for this,” Biviano said, after hearing the request from Sheriff Thomas Altiere and Chief Deputy Ernie Cook on Tuesday.

Biviano told Commissioners Dan Polivka, Frank Fuda and Paul Heltzel that the additional money could come from the county’s $2 million surplus. That was the amount the county commissioners chose not to budget when they finalized their 2007 budget March 1.

Another pay matter

Further, the amount being requested is about the same amount the commissioners agreed to spend at budget time to cover the $455,000 cost of retroactive pay for about 130 sheriff’s employees, Biviano said. The retroactive pay was part of the three-year contract approved by the county and sheriff’s workers in February.

After the meeting, Heltzel said legislation approving additional money for the sheriff’s department will likely appear on the agenda in a week or two.

When the sheriff’s department’s budget was approved March 1, Cook said the $8.6 million budget would be enough to run the department only until midyear.

Cook said the additional money should be enough to keep the sheriff’s department operating at current levels through the end of the year with the exception of overtime.

If necessary, the commissioners will be asked to provide the additional revenue for overtime later in the year, Cook said.

runyan@vindy.com