Editorial, February 11, 2009
County cars under a more watchful eye.
On the plus side of the county government ledger, another perk is shrinking - free cars.
Spurred by minority Commissioner Diane Marseglia's watchdog efforts, the board's Republican majority ordered a review of the county's car policy last year. Employees were asked to explain why they needed a car, with particular attention to employees driving county cars 24-7.
It took nearly a year of debate, tabulation and analysis, but the number of county workers who drive a county car to and from work will drop from 25 to six. And this year, all of them will have to pay tax on the benefit, which amounts to added income of about $2,175 per person. The benefit ranged in value between $685 and $4,089 per employee. Nice perk for employees at the top of the scale.
In addition, the county's asset manager is working on a real policy for using county cars. Currently a paragraph, that guideline will grow to about 20 pages.
Glad to hear county officials finally are bringing some accountability to a perk that for too long was handed out unevenly to county workers and unapologetically at county taxpayers' expense.
February 15, 2009
Bucks County Courier Times: "Spoiled system"
Editorial, February 11, 2009
Taxpayers are footing the cost of health insurance for a posse of part-time county lawyers.
"To the victor belong the spoils." Coined by a New York senator, the practice of naming political supporters to government positions was perfected by President Andrew Jackson. Nearly two centuries later, it remains an entrenched political system, one exercised without apology by our Republican-controlled county government.
And while it's not unreasonable for those running the government to appoint folks who share their political views, it is unreasonable and also unacceptable to pack the government with partisans at the expense of taxpayers. For example, the county employs 15 attorneys who work on an as-needed basis. Some of the lawyers, according to county Commissioner Diane Marseglia, "don't do anything."
Still, these part-time attorneys receive a base salary of between $6,000 and $37,268, for a total annual outlay of $235,268 - plus benefits. The plus-benefits part adds another $205,946 to the jackpot, bringing the total bill to $441,829.
That doesn't include the county's full-time lawyer. Yes, the county has a full-time lawyer; yet, the government still farms out legal work to a flock of part-timers. [continued]
Taxpayers are footing the cost of health insurance for a posse of part-time county lawyers.
"To the victor belong the spoils." Coined by a New York senator, the practice of naming political supporters to government positions was perfected by President Andrew Jackson. Nearly two centuries later, it remains an entrenched political system, one exercised without apology by our Republican-controlled county government.
And while it's not unreasonable for those running the government to appoint folks who share their political views, it is unreasonable and also unacceptable to pack the government with partisans at the expense of taxpayers. For example, the county employs 15 attorneys who work on an as-needed basis. Some of the lawyers, according to county Commissioner Diane Marseglia, "don't do anything."
Still, these part-time attorneys receive a base salary of between $6,000 and $37,268, for a total annual outlay of $235,268 - plus benefits. The plus-benefits part adds another $205,946 to the jackpot, bringing the total bill to $441,829.
That doesn't include the county's full-time lawyer. Yes, the county has a full-time lawyer; yet, the government still farms out legal work to a flock of part-timers. [continued]
February 8, 2009
County perks
Commissioner: Weigh benefits of county perks
By Jenna Portnoy, Intelligencer, February 8, 2009
"Bucks County spends about $200,000 a year providing benefits to part-time solicitors. Commissioner Diane Marseglia believes that's a perk they can do without.
A state survey released last week showed that one million Pennsylvanians do not have health insurance.
"But in Bucks County, 15 attorneys who work on an as-needed basis still receive medical benefits at an annual cost to taxpayers of about $200,000." [Continued>>]
Part-time solicitors' pay, 2009
Assignment / Base salary / Benefits
Name
Board of assessment $15,000 $13,650
Edward Rudolph
Tax claim $20,000 $14,200
John Torrente
Planning $10,000 $13,100
Chuck McIlhinney
Assistant solicitor $37,079 $16,079
Guy Matthews
Assistant solicitor $35,268 $15,879
Tina Mazaheri
Assistant solicitor $35,268 $15,879
Donna Snyder
Assistant solicitor $35,268 $15,879
Don Williams
Clerk of courts $6,000 $12,660
Allen Toadvine
Controller (vacant) $6,000 $12,660
Coroner $6,000 $12,660
Charles Marte Jr.
Prothonotary $6,000 $12,660
Barry Ballow
Recorder of deeds $6,000 $12,660
Martin King
Register of wills $6,000 $12,660
Harold Vikoren
Sheriff (vacant) $6,000 $12,660
Treasurer $6,000 $12,660
Thomas Profy IV
TOTAL $235,883 $205,946
Source: Bucks County controller
By Jenna Portnoy, Intelligencer, February 8, 2009
"Bucks County spends about $200,000 a year providing benefits to part-time solicitors. Commissioner Diane Marseglia believes that's a perk they can do without.
A state survey released last week showed that one million Pennsylvanians do not have health insurance.
"But in Bucks County, 15 attorneys who work on an as-needed basis still receive medical benefits at an annual cost to taxpayers of about $200,000." [Continued>>]
Part-time solicitors' pay, 2009
Assignment / Base salary / Benefits
Name
Board of assessment $15,000 $13,650
Edward Rudolph
Tax claim $20,000 $14,200
John Torrente
Planning $10,000 $13,100
Chuck McIlhinney
Assistant solicitor $37,079 $16,079
Guy Matthews
Assistant solicitor $35,268 $15,879
Tina Mazaheri
Assistant solicitor $35,268 $15,879
Donna Snyder
Assistant solicitor $35,268 $15,879
Don Williams
Clerk of courts $6,000 $12,660
Allen Toadvine
Controller (vacant) $6,000 $12,660
Coroner $6,000 $12,660
Charles Marte Jr.
Prothonotary $6,000 $12,660
Barry Ballow
Recorder of deeds $6,000 $12,660
Martin King
Register of wills $6,000 $12,660
Harold Vikoren
Sheriff (vacant) $6,000 $12,660
Treasurer $6,000 $12,660
Thomas Profy IV
TOTAL $235,883 $205,946
Source: Bucks County controller
County spin cycle
PhillyBurbs.com: "County spin cycle: Bucks County should get out of the 'news' business and focus on disseminating public information--minus the fluff," Bucks County Courier Times editorial, February 8, 2009.
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