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In the ongoing budget talks at the Navajo County Board of Supervisors meetings, Assistant County Manager Bryan Layton introduced Superintendent of Schools Jalyn Gerlich and Public Fiduciary Norman Turley at the April 23 meeting.
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Gerlich started her presentation with a comparison between Coconino County and Navajo County regarding staffing and school districts. “Coconino County has five staff members, we have four,” said Gerlich. “Coconino serves nine school districts; Navajo County serves 14.”
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Continuing, Gerlich outlined how her staff of four, which includes herself, works to process payroll for approximately 2,500 school employees as well as maintaining the rules and regulations within the Uniform System of Financial Records for Arizona school districts.
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“In 2017 there was a law that was passed requiring that school districts have seven business days to complete payroll once the payroll ends,” continued Gerlich. “The turn-around time is really tight and we process payroll virtually every day of the week on payroll weeks.”
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There is no summer break for staff at the superintendent’s office as that is when the fiscal year is closed out, completion reports for grants are submitted, tax rates are fixed and new budgets are entered.
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“There are still people working in the school districts, so payroll has to be processed as well,” said Gerlich. In 2008, her office had five people and a few years before that there were six.
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Gerlich also noted that in January of last year between payroll and expense vouchers, “we processed over $20 million. Right now, we are down a staff person and still have the same duties and obligations. We are not living beyond our means. We are shorthanded and walking on a thread. The motto in our office is don’t get sick.
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“I want to thank the Treasurer’s Office and my office staff for what they do,” concluded Gerlich. “Everyone is taking on a whole lot more responsibility, stepping up and making a difference every single day.”
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The Office of the Public Fiduciary had a more positive story as Turley shared that he currently has a staff of five full-time employees and one employee that works 30 hours.
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“Each case worker can manage between 20 and 30 clients simultaneously,” said Turley. “And we are at 25 to 26 clients per case manager.”
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With four vehicles and one truck with a liftgate, Turley noted that his staff is able to manage the frequent travel to the valley to work with clients in long-term care.
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The Office of the Public Fiduciary was established in 1974 as a mandate for each county in Arizona. It is the responsibility of the office to protect the legal rights and financial interest of vulnerable adults and to administer the estates of deceased persons.
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“We are not like the treasurer’s or assessor’s office or even public works,” continued Turley. “We don’t deal directly with the public, but with those citizens who are most vulnerable. As the baby boomers are aging, it is increasing our workload notably.”
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Currently, Turley’s office has 61 guardianships with 29 payee cases and is a trustee for two trusts as well as providing burial services for people who are not able or willing to do the burials. “Since January to current we have done eight burials. It is expensive but we have a great relationship with the mortuaries,” noted Turley.
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According to Turley there is a lot of exploitation of the elderly, mentally ill and severely handicapped going on in the county. “If we have to reduce staff, it will make it more difficult to help these people,” shared Turley. “We are dedicated, we love what we do and there is nothing more gratifying than helping somebody and getting them the services that they need to be successful.”
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Turley concluded his presentation, saying, “My fear is that the caseloads will get to be too much and we will have to make decisions on what cases we are able to take. Leaving others to slip through the cracks.”
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