Mahoning auditor reduces office hours, cuts staff by 3

By PETER H. MILLIKEN

milliken@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Mahoning County Auditor Michael V. Sciortino is cutting back office hours and laying off three staff members, effective May 7, to achieve annual savings of $176,000.

“The nation’s economy has had a devastating effect on all local governments,” Sciortino said. “I am fully committed to serving the public, and, at the same time, making the cuts that are necessary because it would be irresponsible to act otherwise.”

The auditor’s office, which spent $978,364 from the county’s general fund last year, has been allocated only $769,421 by the county commissioners this year, amounting to a cut of more than 21 percent.

The public will have no access to the auditor’s office on these dates: April 30, May 14 and 28, June 11 and 25, July 9 and 23, Aug. 6 and 20, Sept. 3 and 17, Oct. 1, 15 and 29, Nov. 12 and 26, and Dec. 10 and 24.

Members of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2533 have agreed to take unpaid holidays through the end of this year. Sciortino and his nonunion staff will take the same 5 percent pay cut.

During some of the days, the public will not have access to the offices, employees will be catching up on their work, Sciortino announced.

The closings are being coordinated with those announced by the treasurer’s office because the auditor’s office can’t accept fees it deposits in the treasurer’s office if the treasurer’s office is closed, Sciortino explained.

Two jobs are being abolished, those of Mary Beth Strom, a comptroller in the accounts payable department, and Tom Herman, a payroll clerk. James Dwyer is being laid off as weights and measures clerk.

Had the AFSCME membership not agreed Monday to the 5 percent pay cut through the unpaid days off, two or three more people would be facing layoff, Sciortino said.

“That was our main goal — to save jobs,” Carol Williams, union president, said of the agreed upon pay cut. “We don’t want to lose anybody else.”