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Luzerne County Government

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November 6, 2009

Townhouse plans linked to corruption probe now proceeding

WRIGHT TWP. – With little to show after four years, a townhouse development linked to key figures in the Luzerne County public corruption probe is on track to get approval to proceed.

October 30, 2009

Zola office rental cost comes under scrutiny

Costly district judge office leases were criticized during Luzerne County’s recent budget hearings, and county officials now have an opportunity to end one expensive rental agreement.

October 28, 2009

Boost in collection of taxes sought

Credit cards for property taxes? Bonuses for tax collectors who get the most property owners to pay their taxes?

October 25, 2009

Electorate can show strength by voting

Worn out by all the scandals in local government?

October 22, 2009

More red ink blots finances

Add another $2.45 million to next year’s Luzerne County general fund deficit, thanks to a record-high employee pension fund subsidy.

October 22, 2009

corruption notebook

SCRANTON – A federal judge has scheduled a hearing for Dec. 16 regarding Luzerne County Housing Authority board member Gerald Bonner’s motion to suppress statements he made to federal agents.

October 21, 2009

$13.5M needed for county pension fund

The taxpayer subsidy required to keep Luzerne County’s pension fund afloat will reach another all-time high – an estimated $13.5 million in 2010, county officials said Tuesday.

October 20, 2009

County may face cash flow problem

Luzerne County’s borrowing of $18 million to get through 2009 has been stalled by reluctance of a bond insurer to back the deal, which means the county could be facing a cash flow problem, county Budget/Finance Chief Tom Pribula said during Monday’s commissioner work session.

October 17, 2009

GOP attacks Petrilla, Gartley

A spokesman for the state Republican Party Friday questioned Luzerne County Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla’s recent vote to add language to the general election ballot, saying it’s an attempt “to rig the election for the corrupt Democrat Party and its candidates.”

October 14, 2009

Authority suspends embattled head Bellas

The Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority unanimously voted Tuesday to suspend Executive Director Allen Bellas without pay.

October 13, 2009

Bellas suspended without pay by Redevelopment Authority board

WEST PITTSTON - The Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority Board of Directors suspended Executive Director Allen Bellas without pay Tuesday afternoon during its meeting.

October 13, 2009

Hearing on juvenile justice is set

HARRISBURG – Luzerne County President Judge Chester Muroski and officials with state boards that oversee the conduct of judges and attorneys are scheduled to testify Wednesday at the first hearing of a commission created to investigate failures in Luzerne County’s juvenile justice system.

October 9, 2009

Official sees tax break – Bellas link

Allen Bellas’ promised resignation as Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority executive director appears to be connected to a tax break program that was overseen by the authority, an authority representative said Thursday on the condition of anonymity.

October 7, 2009

Security pass rules to tighten

WILKES-BARRE – Luzerne County officials say they intend to revamp the county’s policy of issuing security passes after learning a contractor with a criminal record was given a pass that granted him 24-hour access to the courthouse.

October 7, 2009

Trying to do more with less

Luzerne County Budget/Finance Chief Tom Pribula said he wished he had ordered a T-shirt for Tuesday’s budget hearings with the following message: “Do more with less.”

October 6, 2009

The county budget squeeze is on

Luzerne County Commissioners ran out of patience Monday when Acting Court Administrator Jack Mulroy came to budget hearings proposing 2010 spending increases in several court branches.

October 2, 2009

Juvie hearings kick off Oct. 14

HARRISBURG – The commission created to investigate failings in the Luzerne County juvenile justice system will hold its first public hearing on Oct. 14 in Harrisburg.

October 1, 2009

County debt at $466M, according to recovery plan

Luzerne County’s outstanding debt has skyrocketed to $466 million, with repayments stretched to 2027, according to a thick financial recovery plan released Wednesday.

October 1, 2009

‘In trouble,’ agency exec to quit

WILKES-BARRE – Saying he is “in trouble,” Allen Bellas, executive director of the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority, has advised authority President Paul Paternoster that he will resign from his position, Paternoster said Wednesday.