Luzerne County Courts

From: Chester B. Muroski, President Judge On behalf of all members of the 11th Judicial District of Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County

In order to deal with the reduction in funding in the 2009 Luzerne County Budget, the Luzerne County Court, under the direction of President Judge Chester Muroski, today announced additional layoffs within the other departments managed by the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

The latest round of reductions, which occurred earlier today, include the Administrator of Specialty Courts and Alternative Sentencing, one conflict counsel to the Orphans Court, three law clerks, one executive secretary, a legal researcher and an assistant solicitor. This is a total of 27 staff reductions to date.

In addition, eight current vacant positions in Court Administration and the Magistrates System will not be filled. The latest action also reduces the salary of the Chief Court Stenographer by $11,250, making the new salary $2,000 more than the current Deputy Court Stenographer.

These layoffs are effective 4:30 p.m. today.

These reductions, along with those announced yesterday, will produce an annualized reduction of approximately $ 2.1 million in payroll costs within the 2009 Court budget.

This non disciplinary separation is being taken in accordance with the rules and procedures prescribed in the Luzerne County Personnel Policy and the Luzerne County Courts Policy and Procedures Manual and existing collective bargaining agreements. It requires the Judiciary to separate employees when fiscal restraints require it to downsize the workforce to effectively meet funding limitations.

The Courts realize that while these reductions are necessary to insure fiscal soundness in the County Budget, they are impacting many dedicated and hardworking employees who have given years of excellent service to the taxpayers of Luzerne County. Every effort will be made to insure that these cuts will not impact important judicial services.

Based upon the Personnel Policy, employees may be paid for unused vacation, sick and/or personal leave upon layoff. Although the separation is effective Thursday, February 12, they will be paid through February 27, in accordance with the provisions of the Personnel Policy.

The Court is also working with the County Budget and Finance Office to improve the Courts ability to more closely monitoring all court expenditures, to insure that the courts stay within the 2009 budget which was passed by the County Commissioners. The Court will continue to work closely with the Commissioners to insure compliance with our mutual goal of fiscal responsibility.