Budget talks set with row officers

Luzerne County Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla said county officials will meet with row officers, probably next Tuesday, about a plan to cut the county budget 20 percent next year.

Clerk of Courts Bob Reilly said during Thursday’s work session that he read about the plan in the newspaper and thinks it would be “appropriate” and “respectful” for county officials to discuss it face-to-face with row officers.

Row officers and department heads were already required to submit their 2009 budget requests, he said.

Petrilla and minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban said the county requested early submission of budget requests so the budget/finance office could get a feel for revenue and spending projections.

A meeting with row officers wasn’t held yet, Petrilla said, because county officials had to compile more information on next year’s revenue to know what percentage of cuts would be necessary. Right now, it’s looking like 20 percent, she said.

Petrilla disclosed the percentage during Tuesday’s court hearing on the county’s request to borrow $15.9 million to fund the county’s deficit. County officials say they need the money because they will run out of cash by mid-November, due to unbudgeted expenses and revenue shortfalls.

Reilly said there are some expenses he can’t predict or control, such as overtime for staff when court proceedings last longer than anticipated or the printing of certain forms that hinge on the number of cases that end up in the court system.

Property owners Walter Griffith and Ed Chesnovitch, who challenged the county’s borrowing of $15.9 million in court, pressed commissioners about the county’s promise to mandate “no discretionary spending” and a hiring freeze in the fourth quarter of 2008.

The promises were made in documents the county submitted to the court as part of the $15.9 million borrowing request.

Petrilla said both matters should be on the agenda at Wednesday’s commissioner meeting.

“I can assure you it will happen and that we understand its urgency,” Petrilla said.

However, Commissioner Greg Skrepenak said commissioners must make sure supervisors don’t earn less than their unionized workers.

Griffith questioned what the county will do to assure the public the 127 workers leaving the county in a special early retirement incentive aren’t unnecessarily replaced.

Petrilla said county officials will take steps to make sure only essential positions are filled, but she couldn’t provide specifics.

Minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban said the county Salary Board would have jurisdiction over salary freezes and authorizing which positions of retiring employees may be refilled.

The three commissioners and county controller sit on the retirement board. Certain departments also receive a fifth vote on job creations/eliminations in their offices, including the president judge, row officers and the public defender.

Salary Board meetings are held after regular commissioner meetings, and it’s unclear if one will be held Wednesday.

County Court of Common Pleas Judge Ann Lokuta did not indicate when she will rule on the county’s $15.9 million borrowing request. County officials say they need at least 45 days to execute the borrowing paperwork.

In other business

• Sell the Spring Brook Water building, 30 N. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, to T&L Associates LLP for $215,000.

• Advertise for larger office space for the Plains Township district judge, due to the office’s increased workload.

• Seek proposals from entities interested in natural gas lease rights on county property. County officials believe about 2,000 acres at Moon Lake Park could be viable drilling locations, possibly generating millions of dollars in revenue for the county.

• Hire Kriger Construction Inc., of Dickson City, for $400,190 to construct a boat launch at Nesbitt Park.

• Loan $380,000 in business development funds to NEPA Burgers Inc. to locate a chain restaurant at 755 Kidder St., Wilkes-Barre. The $1.485 million project is expected to create 37 full-time jobs.

• Change county voice mail and phone directory messages that had been recorded by former county public information officer Kathy Bozinski. Taxpayer Ed Chesnovitch asked when new recordings would be made. County Communications Director Jason Jarecki said he will redo the recordings if necessary, but he’d prefer to find someone else to do it at no cost because he thinks his voice sounds “nasally.”