SUNBURY - The number of employees in Northumberland County has decreased by more than 300 while payroll has been reduced by more than $5 million during the past five years.
The primary reasons for the reductions are the Jan. 1, 2010, sale of Mountain View Manor, which employed 252 county workers at the time, and the elimination of the county's transportation department, which had 36 employees, last year. Other staff reductions have come by layoff and attrition.
According to details provided by county human resources director Joseph Picarelli, the county employed 540 people as of Oct. 9, with an annual payroll of $17,222,623. In 2007, the county employed 841 workers and had an annual payroll of $22,853,308.42.
Prior to being sold to its managing firm, Complete Healthcare Resources, the manor had a payroll of $6,622,671.25. When the transportation department was dissolved Sept. 30, 2011, its payroll was $647,372.25.
The state currently contracts with Rabbittransit to provide transportation services in the county.
Most of the employees who worked at the manor have secured positions with Complete Healthcare Resources, which has changed the name of the 271-bed facility to Mountain View: A Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Some of the workers in the county transportation department were hired by Rabbittransit as well.