By Marcia Moore
The Daily Item
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SUNBURY — Northumberland County budget director Jeffrey McClintock said he’s just trying to keep department budgets on track, but Prothonotary Kathleen Strausser is ignoring his calls.
The prothonotary’s office is entering the fourth quarter with a projected $14,000 shortfall in revenue, and McClintock said he wants to know why and whether he can help.
Strausser eliminated one employee last year, but argued against the county’s request for her to trim another staff member.
But now with revenues falling, McClintock said he wants to discuss the need for the prothonotary’s office to retain 7 1/2 employees.
“I don’t know where they’ll come up with $14,000 because she’s not communicating with me,” he said. “A lot of this is easily addressed, (but) she’s ignored phone calls and e-mails for 2 1/2 to three months.”
Strausser was not available at her office and did not return phone calls from The Daily Item on Wednesday.
Board Chairman Frank Sawicki said he’d talk to Strausser to find out how to address the budget issue after McClintock informed the commissioners about her apparent reluctance to work with him.
Overall, the county is operating within its $63.4 million budget, McClintock said.
He regularly reviews department budgets to stay on top of spending and avoid an end-of-the year surprise.
Most department leaders are willing to discuss their budgets, and in many cases, over-expenditures can’t be avoided, he said.
One example is the county jail, which will exceed its $3.4 million budget by $833,000 due largely to a $570,000 medical contract the prison board signed to address issues raised in a pending class-action lawsuit and more than $200,000 in legal fees.
McClintock accepts the blame for underestimating legal costs associated with litigation.
He had set aside $100,000 for attorney and related fees, but failed to understand the true cost of ongoing lawsuits involving the Sunbury prison.
“I didn’t anticipate $25,000 in legal bills a month. I’ll take the blame on that,” he said. “I can’t hold the prison accountable for that.”
Also over budget is the transportation department, by a projected $47,000, for having to repay $148,000 it overbilled the state for services.
There is some positive news, McClintock said.
Several departments are under budget, including the planning department, which is expected to double revenue, to $100,000, by charging for plan reviews.
The county also is on track to rake in $300,000 more in taxes as a result of a more thorough collection effort, and assessment office expenses are down $48,000.
E-mail comments to mmoore@dailyitem.com.
