SUNBURY - While Northumberland County District Attorney Tony Rosini continues his efforts to convince county commissioners not to eliminate an assistant district attorney, two more positions have been added to the proposed cut list.
In addition to Rosini explaining the adverse effect he believes eliminating one of his five assistants would have on the court system as criminal cases continue to rise, some of his assistants have been circulating a petition containing the names of people who support maintaining the position.
Eliminating an assistant district attorney position, which would save the county approximately $80,000, is among the budgetary cuts proposed by commissioners Rick Shoch, Stephen Bridy and Vinny Clausi to help offset a $1.4 million deficit.
The county salary board is scheduled to vote on eliminating positions Wednesday. Following that meeting, the commissioners are scheduled to adopt the final 2012 budget.
Initially, the commissioners reported nine positions will be eliminated, but that total recently increased to 11.
The proposed cuts include an assistant district attorney, a data entry clerk in the register and recorder's office, a maintenance employee, two workers from the transportation garage that was closed Friday, two finance office employees, a public safety employee whose position was funded by a grant that expired, a part-time clerk in the veterans affairs office, a clerk in the administration building and a part-time secretary for the jury commissioners.
Rosini and Register and Recorder Mary Zimmerman have met with the commissioners in an attempt to keep their entire staffs intact.
Criminal cases on the rise
During a recent interview, Rosini illustrated the need for five assistant district attorneys by outlining the amount of criminal cases filed in his office since 1994.
In 1994, the office had 909 adult criminal cases. Last year, the number of cases rose to 1,537.
In 2011, assistant district attorneys handled 1,928 criminal cases at the four magisterial district judge offices in Milton (539), Shamokin (514), Mount Carmel (379) and Sunbury (496).
Rosini's office staff handled 219 juvenile criminal cases in 2011.
The amount of miscellaneous criminal cases in the district attorney's office increased from 232 in 1994 to 650 in 2011.
Last year, his office staff handled 44 summary appeal cases.
Since 2006, the total number of cases handled by the district attorney's office jumped from 2,236 to 2,450.
Rosini, who took office in January 1996, said Northumberland County has a higher crime rate than surrounding counties because of more poverty, drug use and cheaper housing.
Rosini has received support to maintain his five assistant district attorneys from various lawyers, including Joel Wiest of Sunbury, who recently submitted a Letter to the Editor explaining the negative ramifications of cutting the position.
Rosini said as an independent elected official, he alone has the right to hire and fire personnel in his office. He said the commissioners have no authority to hire, fire, eliminate or discipline any of his staff.
All the assistant district attorneys except for first deputy Ann Targonski, are members of the Teamsters union.
In addition to Rosini and his assistants, there are three clerical staff, a victim/witness coordinator and a county detective employed in the district attorney's office.
The budget for the district attorney's office is $878,000. General fund revenue brought into the office totals $205,000, according to budget director Jeff McClintock.
'Gravy train'
Clausi, who noted all three commissioners were in favor of eliminating 11 positions, previously stated, "The gravy train has got to stop. We have a duty and obligation as commissioners to keep the tax increase at a minimum and we were able to do that by cutting these positions."
As for the cut in the district attorney's office, Clausi said, "It's the first time in four years a position is being cut from that office. If they did the work with five assistant district attorneys, I think they can do it with four. They just have to work a little harder. Mr. Rosini handled some cases himself at the magisterial district judge offices when he was a part-time district attorney a few years ago. His salary jumped to $170,000 when he became a full-time district attorney by giving up his private law practice. He can avoid losing an assistant district attorney by taking a pay cut himself."
While Clausi remains adamant about cutting an assistant district attorney, Shoch and Bridy said they wanted to review the matter further before making a decision Wednesday. All three commissioners said they have the right to eliminate positions during salary board meetings.
The salary board is comprised of the commissioners, controller Tony Phillips and the respective elected officials involved in any salary changes or elimination of positions.