SUNBURY — Ten positions were cut from the 2010 Northumberland County budget Tuesday, and more job cuts are probably on the way.

Jobs that cost the county $377,730 a year were eliminated during a salary board meeting in a packed room at the county administration building.

A little later, the commissioners passed a motion requiring all county department heads to submit budget reductions by Dec. 28 or risk having them propose cuts to the salary board on Jan. 5.

“We’ve sent a message that if they don’t abide by the rules and do what’s in the best interest of the taxpayers, be aware that we’ll cut the budget for you,” said Commissioner Vinny Clausi, a Democrat.

Treasurer Ron Chamberlain, a Republican, objected to his office losing a second deputy position within a year of losing an account clerk position.

“I can’t lose another position,” he argued.

He asked the commissioners to allow him to move his current deputy into the vacant position.

Commissioner Frank Sawicki, a Democrat, and Clausi said they weren’t telling elected officials how to run their offices, only proposing specific job titles be eliminated.

“You are running the office by taking the funding away,” Chamberlain replied.

Controller Charles “Chuck” Erdman, a Republican, wanted to know how much money the board was trying to cut from the 2010 budget.

“We don’t know at this time,” Clausi said.

Erdman suggested the commissioners determine what needs to be done to balance next year’s spending plan and allow elected officials to adhere to the budget they develop.

In a 3-2 vote along party lines, the move to cut the position from the treasurer’s office failed. Chamberlain, Erdman and Commissioner Kurt Masser, a Republican, opposed it, and Sawicki and Clausi approved it.

Prothonotary Kathleen Strausser and her attorney, Roger Wiest II, also put up a fight about losing a second deputy and data clerk, to no avail.

Approving the cuts were Sawicki, Clausi and Masser, with Strausser and Erdman opposed.