Commissioners approve unpaid leave

Debbie Wachter Morris

Jun. 24, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- To address a potential shortage of state funding, county government employees are now allowed to take days off without pay.

The Lawrence County commissioners Tuesday adopted a policy authorizing voluntary unpaid leave to workers as a way to control existing personnel costs.

The leaves must be approved by the department head of the employee who requests them, and they must be taken in work-day or work-week increments.

Commissioner Chairman Steve Craig explained that Pennsylvania is facing a crisis where it is uncertain whether there will be a balanced state budget anytime soon.

The county has a certain amount of cash from property tax revenues. However, it is 75 percent funded by state money.

"If that money doesn't come in, we're in a bind."

He said the officers of the county -- the commissioners, controller, treasurer and administrator -- will have to meet soon to decide how they will address the budget shortfall, should it occur.

Many county-operated programs, such as mental health/mental retardation, rely on state funding for their operation. Some court employees and judges also are paid with state dollars, he noted.

"I'm hearing the state isn't anywhere near to having a budget ready for adoption."

The state budget goes into effect for its fiscal year, which begins July 1. Typically, the spending plan is adopted a couple of weeks after that, but this year, it could be a lot longer, Craig said.

"Meanwhile, vendors and employees expect to be paid."

He also pointed out the county jail and 911 center have 24-hour operations and "can't turn off the lights and go home."

Commissioner Dan Vogler noted that with the new unpaid leave policy, the president judge will have the say over when court employees can take such days off.

Allowing unpaid leave is one way of trying to contain costs, according to Commissioner Rick DeBlasio, who noted the county previously had instituted a hiring freeze as well.

"We have counties around us that are laying off and cutting programs already," he said.

"We're trying to do whatever we can, regarding times we're in with the state and federal budget, to stay away from layoffs. We're trying to work with the employees."

DeBlasio said that the new policy could save the county money if people are interested in it.

Many companies are making furlough days mandatory as a way to cut expenses, because they don't want to lose the expertise of their staff they have working for them, DeBlasio explained.

"We'll do whatever is necessary before we think about layoffs," he said, emphasizing that at this point, the commissioners have no plans to institute layoffs.

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