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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Friday, September 17, 2010

Northampton County Workforce Drops From 2212 to 2067

"I sometimes feel like a father with twelve hungry children."

That's how Northampton County Executive John Stoffa feels about he job freeze (it's really a frost) imposed earlier this year, in an effort to reduce the cost of government in the face of a looming tax hike next year.

A County workforce of 2,212 in July is now down to just 2,067, or 145 unfilled positions. Nobody has been laid off. All these vacancies are the result of attrition. 96 of these slots are at Gracedale.

Twenty employees costs the County roughly $1 million. But does it necessarily follow that 20 unfilled positions will save the County $1 million? According to County administrators, overtime is up in 24-hour operations like the jail and Gracedale.

In September alone, Stoffa has been asked to fill thirty vacancies. Last night, he advised Council that he intends to fill the follwong positions:

* Two (2) full-time Deputy Sheriff Sergeant positions at pay grade CS-24, with an annual salary of $40,580 - $59,008.

* Two (2) full-time Clerical Technician positions in the Criminal Division at pay grade CR-13, with an annual salary of $23,009 - $31,311.

* One (1) Aging Care Manager III at pay grade PS-37, with an annual salary of $40,173-$63,713.

* 4.75 FTE's - Dietary Aide OR Dietary Utility positions at pay grade GU-01, with an annual salary of $22,489 - $28,613.

* 2.50 FTE's - Therapeutic Recreation Aides at pay grade GU-02, with an annual salary of $23,160 - $29,482.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bernie:
Many positions in Human Services are re-imbursed by the State - most in the 65-90% range, but some even at 100%. If those positions are unfilled, then there is little savings to the County.
On a seperate note, would you be able to list the profit or loss at Gracedale for each of the past ten years. It would be good to see a breakdown of each specific year.
Thanks

Anonymous said...

Seems Mr. Angle is opposed to any job creation in the county like the Mayor of Bethlehem.

Anonymous said...

If Stoffa was the county's father we would have all died three years ago. He is a complete disaster. An incompetent man who is so far over his head in this position, he can no longer see daylight.

I pity Northampton County. Many folks wish he would just resign and go paint bird houses.

Anonymous said...

Can Stoffa lay himself off?