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By JENNIFER LEARN-ANDES jandes@leader.net
Thursday, March 13, 2003 Page: 3A
There’s one aspect that has been lost in the debate over possibly
eliminating a Luzerne County district justice office: cost.
More specifically, the cost shouldered by county taxpayers.
The total bill to operate the county’s 18 district justices was $2,573,565
in 2002, but that’s partially offset by revenues of $962,615 generated by the
offices.
The bottom line: county taxpayers paid more than $1.6 million in 2002 on
district justices.
Minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban said the state should consider the
expense as it decides whether to eliminate a Luzerne County district justice
office.
“Cost is a factor. We’re at our maximum millage, and this county has to
make choices. People tell me all the time that they’re tired of being taxed to
death and are tired of the growth of government.”
The exact cost to run each office isn’t clear because they aren’t separated
in the county budget. In addition to salaries, each office receives anywhere
from $15,000 to $45,000 for general expenses.
The state Supreme Court has directed the county to consolidate its
magisterial districts and eliminate one, citing the county’s caseload compared
to other counties and its population decline.
The county Court of Common Pleas had asked the state to reconsider and has
submitted a report to the state citing the large geographic area covered by
district justices and new caseload data.
It’s unclear when the state will render a decision.
To arrive at the true cost of the offices, some digging is required because
the county budget doesn’t spell out all the expenses under the “district
justice” category.
That category basically says the county spent $1.97 million in 2002 on
things such as supplies, salaries, rent and consultants.
But there’s more. And because other costs aren’t spelled out in the budget,
it’s necessary to do some math. (District justices themselves weren’t factored
into any of these equations because they are covered by the state.)
Tack on:
Roughly $325,000 for health care, using a conservative $6,500 times 50
district justice employees.
About $7,000 for workers’ compensation by taking $140 times 50 employees.
Another $5,880 for life insurance calculated by multiplying 50 employees
by $117.60.
Overhead is another cost. It covers county support services such as data
processing. A figure for 2002 wasn’t available but the Controller’s Office in
1999 pegged overhead at $159,500.
Don’t forget the county’s Federal Insurance Contributions Act payment. It
amounts to $106,185 using a formula of .0762 times the $1.39 million payroll
for 2002.
The grand total rings up to $2,573,565.
County Board of Commissioners Chairman Tom Pizano said he’s not sure how
much the district justice offices cost county taxpayers. The county used to
recoup enough revenue to break even, he recalled – but that was before the
state changed the formula during the Casey administration and kept more
revenue.
For example, a county internal report in 1999 showed that the county
received $845,601.26 in revenue from county district justice offices while the
state kept $3.23 million. More recent figures weren’t available.
Jennifer Learn-Andes, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at
831-7333.