SUNBURY-- Emotions were high at a special Northumberland County Commissioners meeting Tuesday night.
For the second time, commissioners voted to slash salaries and cut benefits for elected row officers, from the sheriff to the coroner and everyone in between, except for the county controller.
The commissioners slashed salaries at a meeting last month, but because that meeting was not properly advertised, they had to hold another and do it again.
Again, county workers, taxpayers, and elected officials spoke out against the move.
"We are not career politicians. We have careers in government. It's the career we chose to do," said Northumberland County Coroner James Kelley.
"If you're lost, ask for help. If you need advice, get it. If you need people to agree with you, help them understand, tell them what it going on. Please, please don't do this. Please don't do it to this county," said Sunbury attorney Kymberley Best.
Despite those protests, the cuts were made.
Commissioners Vinny Clausi and Stephen Bridy said they have to save county money and keep people from making politics a career.
Commissioner Richard Shoch disagreed. He voted no to the cuts.
The salary cuts take effect the first day of newly elected terms.
"This is the kind of corruption that is going on every day in this county and money is flying out the door," said Shoch.