Uncertain numbers bother officials

By Denise Dick

Township trustees have grown frustrated over getting information from the fiscal officer.

BOARDMAN — The township police and fire departments have racked up how much overtime this year?

The answer depends on whom you ask.

This uncertainty occurs on the eve of an anticipated fiscal-watch declaration by the state auditor’s office.

William Leicht, township fiscal officer, said recently that the overtime amount was more than $400,000 — $300,000 for police and $100,000 for fire.

But the township’s payroll as of Tuesday shows a combined overtime total of $493,487 — $219,163 for police and $274,324 for fire.

Leicht could not be reached Tuesday.

Township officials have expressed frustration during the last several months about getting information from Leicht.

“Everyone is very frustrated,” Trustee Robyn Gallitto said.

She said she can understand making an estimate and the actual number changing.

“I can only base my decisions on the information I am given,” Gallitto said.

“You can’t manage a township when the fundamental tools necessary, like sound financial records and reports, and a sound budgetary process are not part of the decision-making process,” Trustee Kathy Miller said.

Jason Loree, township administrator, said he’s not surprised about the difference in numbers. When he finds a discrepancy in numbers provided by Leicht, he said, he can usually straighten it out in a phone call to the fiscal office.

Loree, who assembles the township budget relying on information from the fiscal officer, said that process can make completing the budget more difficult.

“But when you’re doing the budget, you really should check and re-check the figures,” Loree said.

Larry Moliterno, trustees chairman, said accurate information is needed for the township to make decisions.

“The sooner we come up with numbers that we are comfortable with and can agree on, the sooner we can start working together to solve our problems,” he said.

It’s also important in dealing with the township’s unions in contract negotiations, Moliterno said.

“The unions are willing to work with us to do what we need to do for the township, but they have to be comfortable with the numbers and right now, they’re not,” he said.

Miller said she isn’t surprised that the overtime numbers have changed. She referred to a state performance audit of the township released in 2008.

It “recommended developing formal policies for the financial management within the township,” Miller said. “As a trustee, the data I have received has not always been accurate.”

The basics aren’t in place, she said.

At a meeting tonight, representatives of the state auditor’s office are expected to declare the township in fiscal watch.

That state designation means that expenditures are outpacing revenues. It’s a precursor to being declared in fiscal emergency, which would mean the state would come in and supervise spending.

Boardman voters last fall approved a 2.2-mill police-and-fire levy projected to generate about $2 million annually, keep fire stations open, hire more police and recall laid-off firefighters. But township officials announced last month that one of the three fire stations would close to help control fire department overtime.

denise_dick@vindy.com