In the race for state Senate, county Recorder of Deeds Steve McDonald has portrayed himself as the true fiscal conservative, saying he's "cut the size and cost of running the office by more than 50 percent."

And when former Congressman Pat Toomey endorsed him earlier this week, he said the same thing: "Over the past 10 years, Steve has cut the size and cost of the recorder's office by more than 50 percent, saving taxpayers over $1.5 million."

But records indicate only part of that statement is accurate.

While McDonald has, in fact, cut the number of staff to nine from 18 since taking office in 1998, the yearly cost of running the deeds office has increased by more than 46 percent — going from $562,274 nine years ago to $823,614 in 2006, the records show.

The office has a budget of $805,473 this year.

McDonald, a Republican who lives in Manheim Township, did not question the accuracy of those figures in an interview in his office this morning. But he stood by his earlier statements.

"I said I cut the size and cost," said McDonald. "The size is simple. When I got here there were 16 people, and two in microfilm. There are now nine people here and none in microfilm."

Pressed about his claim of reducing the costs of his office by 50 percent, he said: "Here is my statement: The bottom line is, that's apples and oranges. That doesn't paint a true picture of the statement we're making."

McDonald is widely credited with introducing technology to his office, a move that even his opponent for the 13th District Senate seat, Paul Thibault, has said makes it more efficient. McDonald said technology is saving taxpayers money now and will do so even more in the future.

Thibault's campaign, however, has seized on McDonald's claim, saying it's flat-out bogus.

"The facts are that his spending increased dramatically while he was in office," spokesman Scott Migli said. "To lie to the people of Lancaster County and misrepresent the facts is not the way campaigns are run."

Thibault, a Lancaster Township Republican who served two terms as county commissioner, declined to comment this morning. "The facts are whatever they are," he said.

Earlier this week, though, Thibault's campaign issued a prepared statement in response to Toomey's endorsement of McDonald. It read: "Unfortunately for Congressman Toomey the McDonald campaign was less than forthcoming with the facts."

Toomey, a Lehigh Valley Republican who heads the conservative Club for Growth, was traveling this morning and unavailable for comment, an aide said. She referred a reporter to Toomey's news release.

McDonald and Thibault are the only two delared candidates seeking the state Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Gibson E. Armstrong after 2008.

At least four others are weighing a run. They are former Lancaster Mayor Charlie Smithgall; state Rep. Bryan Cutler, in his first term representing the 100th Legislative District; Mitch Hanna, a legislative assistant for Armstrong in Harrisburg; and Bob Thompson, a legal counsel to Armstrong.

McDonald and his campaign have said repeatedly he has "cut the size and cost of running the office by more than 50 percent." He did so in an interview with The Pennsylvania Republican, a conservative publication, in December. And his campaign has done so as recently as today, in an e-mail news release announcing an endorsement by Fred Anton, president and chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association.

Also, in a prepared statement, Anton says about McDonald: "He has cut the size and cost of government, while at the same time making his government office more open and accessible to the taxpayers and providing better services."

When asked about his claim that McDonald reduced costs when data show otherwise, Anton said: "I'm not going to attempt to debate or to reconcile those conflicting points. I'm focusing on reducing the number of people. I'm not getting into the technical arguments of the issue you pointed out."

McDonald's campaign appeared to have backed off the claim when asked about it earlier in the week. In a lengthy e-mail response to the New Era on Thursday, campaign spokesman Seth Wimer didn't even mention the 50-percent reduction in costs.

"The Recorder of Deeds office has 50% fewer employees than it did 10 years ago when Steve took office. When is the last time someone in government reduced an office by half? Steve's innovative way of doing business completely eliminated the microfilm department and its employees. When is the last time someone in government completely eliminated a department?" he asked.

Today, McDonald said that reducing staff and employing technology will save taxpayers the cost of paying for salaries — the nine former employees made about $40,000 each — and related costs. Asked for specific data showing a 50 percent reduction in costs since taking office, however, he said he could not immediately provide them.

RECORDER OF DEEDS SPENDING

• 2007* — $805,473.
• 2006 — $823,614.
• 2005 — $828,175.
• 2004 — $661,316.
• 2003 — $826,574.
• 2002 — $517,139.
• 2001 — $732,098.
• 2000 — $622,709.
• 1999 — $599,771.
• 1998 — $562,274.

* Budgeted

CONTACT US: tmurse@LNPnews.com or 481-6021