Brandon Twp.- A contentious election season has raised charges that employees of the clerk’s office have racked up more than $10,000 in overtime this year.
Linda Cotton, the current township deputy treasurer who is running as a write-in candidate for township clerk, says payroll records from January to September show that the township has paid more than $10,000 in overtime for clerk’s office employees.
Current Clerk Jeannie McCreery, who is running for re-election, disputes the number and wonders why, and on whose time, Cotton is looking at payroll records.
‘I went through each payroll period and accounted for the overtime,? Cotton said. ‘I did it because of the unnecessary excessive spending. The overtime needs to be cut. They need more productivity and they need more supervision? it would make the office run more efficiently.?
The township budget report shows that from January to Oct. 16, the clerk’s office spent $2,261.21 in overtime for three employees. The township budget allowance for clerk’s office overtime for 2008 is $2,250.
The overtime wages for elections, handled by the clerk’s staff, but a separate line item, was $4,736.93 by mid-October. The 2008 budget allows for $5,000, but McCreery acknowledged the clerk’s office will go over that with the election taking place this week.
‘With elections, there is nothing you can do,? McCreery said. ‘You have to be open on a Saturday, you have to set up precincts on weekends, and there is no way it can be done in eight hours.?
McCreery noted that in the last three elections, including two primaries this year, the clerk’s staff worked 23-and-a-half hours straight, from 4:30 a.m. the day of the election until 3:30 a.m.
She notes that for the presidential primary in January, the state reimbursed all clerks? offices for any overtime worked.