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Juvenile justice center lays off 11
The juvenile justice center has lost $500,000 in revenue.
YOUNGSTOWN — The layoff of 11 workers from the Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center means longer waits for counseling appointments, reduced services for youth in detention and the absence of a receptionist, said Judge Theresa Dellick of the juvenile court.
“So long as we remain in an economic crisis, these positions will not be filled,” the judge said, adding that she considers the layoffs permanent.
The cutbacks mean youth in detention are no longer getting reading assistance and life skills instruction after school hours, the judge said.
The layoff of the receptionist means telephone callers must navigate a lengthy office directory and respond to a recorded series of voice prompts.
More cutbacks may be on the way, Judge Dellick said.
In a Tuesday afternoon meeting, George J. Tablack, county administrator, told her his financial forecast for the county’s general fund has worsened since the one he gave in December, the judge said.
The judge added that she will be reviewing her budget today to determine where she can make more cuts, such as reducing staff members’ work hours and lowering their compensation accordingly.
The layoffs, which took effect Jan. 17, were done in anticipation of cutbacks in the county’s general fund this year.
“We knew it was going to be a tight year,” the judge said. JJC’s allocation from the county’s general fund was $6.6 million last year, but is projected at $6.3 million this year, she added.
The combined total JJC budget in 2008 from all sources, including county, state and federal money was $8.5 million. This year, it is projected to be only $8 million, and that money must cover 27 paydays compared to 26 last year, because of the way the calendar falls, said Anthony D’Apolito, court administrator.
“We’re in difficult economic times. We need to do our part to use the limited resources that are available to this county,” Judge Dellick said.
“Each department lost somebody. ... Every department felt the pain,” the judge said. With the layoffs in effect, JJC has 143 employees. The entire JJC work force is nonunion.
The court is canceling its choir spectacular program this year and will use that money to pay employee salaries and prevent further layoffs, the judge said.
Despite the layoffs, the JJC maintains its American Corrections Association accreditation and complies with state requirements for staffing and provision of services, the judge said.
Besides the receptionist, whose job was abolished, those laid off were a probation officer, a corrections officer, a parent project facilitator, a mental health counselor, three case managers, a janitor and a reading facilitator and a life skills instructor, both in the detention center.
“It is with deep anguish that this decision has been made and executed,” the judge wrote in a memorandum to her staff just before the layoffs took effect. “Please keep a positive attitude and continue to professionally perform your job with the court’s mission in mind. We are here to serve our community and will continue to do so, even with limited resources.”
milliken@vindy.com