Contact - Volunteer - Contribute - (302) 468-6024

Bob Weiner
Home About Bob Legislation & Essays News Articles Photo & Video Gallery Facebook Contact Bob
Bob Weiner News  

4/15/2009
Councilman Weiner: "Cut the fat in the Recorder of Deeds budget!" - Community News

Councilman Robert Weiner (R-Chatham) said things are different now.

"We wanted to send a strong message that this is not business as usual now," he said.

Weiner said he was concerned primarily with the Recorder of Deeds' budget, an office he said has seen its workload cut nearly in half as the housing market has slowed, yet has not shed any staff.

He said he'd like to possibly see two people moved from the Recorder of Deeds Office to the Register of Wills Office, which he says is short-staffed.

 "The bottom line is deaths aren't affected by the economy, but home sales are," he said.

By Jesse Chadderdon
Community News
Posted Apr 15, 2009 @ 02:13 PM

Wilmington, Del. —

Legislation calling on New Castle County's Row Offices to comb their budgets to find more savings was defeated by a split county council on Tuesday night.

Council voted 7-6 against the non-binding resolution.

Councilman William Tansey (R-Greenville) said he brought the bill forward after a contentious budget hearing a few weeks ago where the four row offices - the Recorder of Deeds, Clerk of the Peace, Register of Wills and Sheriff - all presented their 2010 budget proposals to council.

"They were asked to make 8 percent budget cuts [from last year] and none of them did that," Tansey said. "I recognize that the cost of benefits going up threw everything off kilter, but come on."

But others thought the bill was unnecessary.

"I thought our message was sent loud and clear at the budget hearing," said Councilman David Tackett (D-Christiana). "And really the resolution has no force of law. It's just a nice pretty please and we don't have the power under state law to demand they do it."

Clerk of the Peace Ken Boulden, whose 2010 proposed budget represents a $23,590 increase over 2009's $536,045, said rising health insurance and benefits costs are to blame for canceling out previous cuts. Any additional cuts would hinder the services his office provides, he said.

"This has been an ongoing process we've been involved in for months," he said. "And I have to be honest, I don't know what's left to cut. We're talking about a bare bones budget as it is now."

Boulden said it's the first time in his memory that the council has attempted to make the Row Offices revisit their budgets.

But Councilman Robert Weiner (R-Chatham) said things are different now.

"We wanted to send a strong message that this is not business as usual now," he said.

Weiner said he was concerned primarily with the Recorder of Deeds' budget, an office he said has seen its workload cut nearly in half as the housing market has slowed, yet has not shed any staff.

He said he'd like to possibly see two people moved from the Recorder of Deeds Office to the Register of Wills Office, which he says is short-staffed.

"The bottom line is deaths aren't affected by the economy, but home sales are," he said.

Recorder of Deeds Michael Kozikowski said he initially trimmed 8.8 percent from 2009's $2.6 million budget before the county was forced increased its benefits compensation. In a letter to council, he outlined some of the cuts his office has made.

"Of any of the departments in New Castle County, we've probably been the most transparent and most fiscally responsible," Kozikowski said. "So I sent them the letter to try to give them a clearer understanding of what we've done here."

Tackett said his vote against the resolution should not be mistaken for satisfaction with the budgets of the Row Offices.

"My hope would be that they come back to us with some ideas before we have to finalize our budget so it doesn't come down to a showdown," he said.
 

THE VOTE
YES (6): Cartier, Hollins, Sheldon, Street, Tansey, Weiner
NO (7): Bell, Clark, Diller, Powers, Reda, Smiley, Tackett

Back to the News Summary

Have news? Please contact me!

HOT TOPICS:
Important Safety Tips
File a Property Complaint
Report a Pothole to DelDOT
NCC Open Checkbook
Presentations to Council
Redevelopment
NCC Council Video
New Castle County Finances
NCC Public Safety
Stoltz Developments
Other Development Proposals
NCC Clearwater Disconnect Program
Brandywine 100 History
Anti-Graffiti Brigade
Talley Day Bark Park
Claymont
Search BobWeiner.com:

Latest News:
7/8/2020
  Brandywine Hundred County Library is open with socially distancing safe door-to-door delivery takeout service
11/30/2018
  Walker's Bank deemed unsafe, will be demolished
7/24/2018
  Councilman announces details of redevelopment at former AstraZeneca site

New Castle County Comprehensive Plan
How to Attend a County Council Meeting
Info on Planning Board Public Hearings
Time Limits For Speakers And
Standards For Review Of Applications
Directions to Reads Way

 

 

Give Bob a "like" on Facebook:


   
Latest News:
7/8/2020
  Brandywine Hundred County Library is open with socially distancing safe door-to-door delivery takeout service
11/30/2018
  Walker's Bank deemed unsafe, will be demolished
7/24/2018
  Councilman announces details of redevelopment at former AstraZeneca site
Upcoming events:
County Council meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday evenings of each month
"Bob's commitment to the communities he represents is clearly evident and we are fortunate to enjoy his services."

Dave Warner
President, Liftwood Estates Civic Association

Paid for by Friends of Bob Weiner - www.BobWeiner.com - (302) 468-6024 - Volunteer - Contribute
Friends of Bob Weiner is the political candidate committee that accepts contributions on behalf of New Castle County Councilman Robert S. Weiner.

Facebook Twitter Youtube