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Lawrence Co. scrambles to meet 2-week payroll
NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Lawrence County had to dip into reserve funds to make the payroll Thursday, Dave Prestopine of the county controller’s office told commissioners.
Prestopine said the county will have to use its $1.5 million reserve fund because there is only $292,112 currently in the general fund. About $350,000 will be moved out of the reserve funds to meet the payroll.
County payrolls run $500,000 to $700,000 every two weeks. Some savings will be realized on personnel costs when county employees are laid off the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas as a cost- saving measure.
Commissioner Steve Craig said that though the general-fund balance is low right now, money is continuing to come in, and he expects that the county will end the year with a slight balance.
The general-fund balance is unusually low because the county had to use that money to pay some state obligations, such as the state’s share of personnel costs, during the recent state-budget impasse. The state budget has passed, but reimbursements are coming in slowly.
Craig said no decision has been made on whether commissioners will impose a property-tax increase next year. The preliminary 2010 budget will be introduced Dec. 10, and at that time, any tax increase would be announced.
Also Thursday, commissioners said they have signed agreements with the Pennsylvania State Health Department for four centers in the county to be used for distribution of H1N1 vaccines.
The locations and schedules will be announced once the vaccines arrive in the county. Brian Melcer, the county’s public-safety director, said the state health department will determine who will be eligible for the vaccines.
Commissioners also opened bids for title searches. The two bidders were Atty. Brian Levine, who offered to do the searches for $117.50 per real-estate parcel and $50 for mobile homes, and Atty. Michael Bonner, who bid $105 per parcel and $45 for mobile homes. The bids will be reviewed by the county solicitor.
Commissioners’ Tuesday meeting will take place at 1 p.m. instead of 10 a.m. because commissioners will be attending a Veterans Day observance put on by Mohawk High School at Scottish Rite Cathedral.