SOMERSET COUNTY: Budget to see work-force reduction of 27

Public hearing Tuesday, April 12

   SOMERVILLE — County government will eliminate 27 positions, through attrition and a hiring freeze, in the proposed 2011 budget that is $161,411 less than last year’s.
   A public hearing on the proposed $211.1 million budget will be held Tuesday, April 12, starting at 7 p.m. in the freeholders’ meeting room in the county administration building at 20 Grove St. Free parking is available in the Bernie Field Parking Deck off East High Street.
   ”With the elimination of another 27 positions, we now have 149 fewer people on the county payroll than we did three years ago,” said Freeholder Director Robert Zaborowski. “By leveraging attrition and continuing our hiring freeze, we’re literally doing more with less.”
   He said the freeholders were “already looking at ways to reduce the budget again in 2012.”
   Eliminating funding for 27 positions is expected to save $2.8 million in the 2011 budget. The total of 149 vacated positions represents a workforce reduction of 12 percent, the freeholders said.
   The proposed budget lowers the total tax levy, said Freeholder Peter Palmer, finance committee chairman. The amount to be raised by taxation is down by $109,000 to $168,720,100.
   ”The wage freeze accepted by our non-union employees and by 16 of our 19 unions is what made this budget possible,” Mr. Palmer said. “We are somewhat unique among local governments in that we have been able to reduce our head count without having to resort to layoffs.”
   All county departments and agencies were asked to maintain a flat or decreased budget for non-salary expenses. Four county departments (executive, 1.03 percent; finance and administrative services, 5.2 percent; human services, 4.55 percent, and public works, 2.8 percent) show overall decreases for 2011.
   The Department of Public Health and Safety has decreased expenses $17,931 while continuing the shared-service initiative to assume dispatch duties for many local municipalities.
   Changes in employee health benefits include an increase in prescription co-pays to $25 for name brands and $20 for generics, effective July 1 for most employees and retirees. Those co-pays will increase to $30 and $20, respectively, effective Jan. 1, 2012.
   To view the proposed budget, go to “What’s New” on the county Web site at www.co.somerset.nj.us/spotlight.html.