PARIS — Oxford County officials predict this year’s payroll for employees may exceed budget by as much as $100,000.
As of Nov. 14, the county was $83,948 over projected payroll expenditures, according to figures provided by Deputy County Administrator Judith Haas. The payroll overages are mainly in the Sheriff’s Office and Oxford County Regional Communications Center.
The payroll budget for 2013 is $2,673,007. As of the last payroll, 91.6 percent, or $2,448,532, has been spent, with six weeks of payroll remaining in the year.
The unexpected cost will be covered with money from the county’s fund balance, according to County Administrator Scott Cole.
During the Oxford County Commission meeting Tuesday, Haas and Cole asked department heads to be aware of the predicted overage and attempt to limit payroll costs.
December is usually a heavy payroll month, including holiday pay and employees cashing out their unused time off, Haas said. Although the county is still waiting on some outstanding revenues that could help offset the payroll costs, Haas still expects an overdraft of up to $100,000.
Six out of the county’s 11 departments are over budget, with the Sheriff’s Office and Communications Center accounting for the vast majority of the unbudgeted payroll.
According to the county’s figures, the Sheriff’s Office has exceeded its payroll budget by $58,455. The excess is largely due to an unbudgeted assignment of a full-time drug inspector and hiring a new patrol deputy, Cole said.
James Miclon, the Communications Center director, said his department’s $46,290 payroll excess was mainly due to pay given to employees during extended sick leaves and the overtime used to pay staff who filled in the shifts.
The overages are being offset slightly by under budget payrolls in the Emergency Management Agency and civil process division, which was rolled into the Sheriff’s Office earlier this year.
pmcguire@sunjournal.com
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