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Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Montgomery County Common Pleas Court’s General Division will eliminate positions to balance budget
DAYTON — The Montgomery County Common Pleas Court’s General Division, the latest part of government to face the county’s fiscal crisis, will be eliminating 10 to 12 positions during the next two months.
This could lead to layoffs, though the number will depend on how many people agree to voluntarily leave their jobs through the county’s voluntary separation plan, said Judge Michael T. Hall, the division’s administrative judge.
The division’s 208 employees were notified via email on Wednesday, July 1. The email said that county commissioners have asked the judges to reduce the division’s budget by an additional 2.5 percent, on top of the 6 percent reduction the division had already made.
The division’s budget is about $14 million, with about 86 percent reserved for personnel costs. The reduction would save about $240,000, Hall said.
“This has really been a difficult decision for the judges,” Hall said. “We also recognize that it’s a difficult job market out there.”
The court has four divisions: general, which handles most criminal and civil matters, plus juvenile, domestic relations and probate. Hall said the general division, by far the largest, would re-organize how it handles civil cases, but criminal cases would not be affected.
The division has 11 judges. The judges met Tuesday night and voted to approve the plan to cut costs, Hall said. He would not reveal the vote, but said that though it was not unanimous, there was a “clear, definite consensus.”
Hall also would not discuss how the other judges voted, though he said “I voted for it. But I felt that I had to.”
Employees will be notified which positions are abolished after July 15. It’s unclear how many layoffs will occur, as the division employees have until July 31 to enter the county’s voluntary separation plan, said Court Administrator Jim Drubert.
That plan, approved in June, offers a lump sum incentive for those employees who agree to leave county employment. The incentive payments will vary, as the lump sum will be calculated based on 25 percent of the employee’s first $50,000 of salary, then 5 percent of the remaining salary.
Even if 12 people decide to enter the plan, there could still be layoffs, if those whose positions are abolished do not have transferable skills for remaining jobs, Hall said.
The email notes that “this is no reflection on the work of any of the individuals that may be affected,” and adds that court staff is working with the Job Center and the Employee Assistance Program to help affected employees.
Hall said the cuts are necessary to balance the budget, but would not be easy for remaining staff.
“We’ve already cut to the bone,” Hall said. “Now, this is surgery.”
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