County hikes tax 15 percent

After months of back-and-forth, Luzerne County finally has a final 2010 budget, and the resulting 15-percent tax hike did not go over well with property owners who packed into the commissioners meeting room Friday to object.

The $127.5 million package, approved by Commissioners Maryanne Petrilla and Thomas Cooney, will raise taxes to 5.215 mills.

The owner of a $100,000 property will pay about $68 more in county taxes compared to last year, with a bill increasing from $453 to $521. A mill is $1 tax on every $1,000 in assessed property value.

Audience members cheered for speakers who criticized the tax hike and other county decisions.

“I am just here to say that I have no more to give,” said Exeter resident Ann Marie Palmieri.

Palmieri said the tax increase and recent closure of county-owned Moon Lake Park motivated her to attend her first county commissioner meeting.

“We the taxpayers are not responsible for what has taken place for decades or for the financial situation here, yet, once again, the burden is placed on us,” Palmieri said.

Petrilla and Cooney did not get into a discussion at the meeting but have said they were unable to find enough cuts and revenue to avoid a 15 percent hike.

Minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban had reluctantly given Petrilla the second vote she needed on Dec. 10 to get the initial proposed $127.2 million budget on the table, though Urban made it clear that he did not support the 18.5-percent tax hike and would not vote for any tax increase in the final product.

Former commissioner Greg Skrepenak had voted against the proposal, saying he did not want layoffs but could not raise taxes.

Cooney was thrust into the budget controversy when he was appointed to replace Skrepenak on Dec. 23. Skrepenak was charged in the federal corruption probe on Dec. 18.

At first Cooney had refused to increase taxes more than 10 percent but ended up going to 15 percent after meeting with all departments.

Cooney initially abstained from the budget vote Friday, saying his business, A&E Group Inc. in Plains Township, is still working on a construction project at Luzerne County Community College. The college receives funding from the county.

When Urban voted against the budget, solicitor Vito DeLuca said the law allows Cooney to cast the tie-breaking vote, as long as he declared the reason for his abstention. Cooney has said that A&E will not seek any new work in county government while he fills the remainder of his term through 2011, and he will not be involved in any company decisions regarding county work.

Dallas Township resident Fred Davis told commissioners he decided to attend his first commissioner meeting Friday because he is frustrated.

“It seems like in the last year almost every day there’s something in the paper about corruption,” Davis said, noting that he is disappointed with the recent closure of county-owned Moon Lake Park.

County officials say they are still meeting with entities that may be interested in operating the park at no cost to the county.

Property owner John Newman, also of Dallas Township, complained about revenue lost through tax-break programs and the county’s sub-par tax collection. He said he obtained records that show 13.2 percent of county residents are not paying their taxes.

“It’s not fair to these people who do pay their taxes. You have to do something about it,” Newman said.

County Budget/Finance Chief Tom Pribula said he and other county officials are looking at ways to boost collection.

Jenkins Township resident Robert Joyce said he was able to attend Friday’s meeting because he lost his job days after he purchased a property in the county. He said taxpayers are struggling to pay property taxes.

“Why should the taxpayers of this county continue to reward irresponsibility in this county?” Joyce said. “This is the wrong time for a tax increase.”

Hunlock Township property owner Ed Warkevicz said commissioners should further investigate the spending of $970,000 in special records improvement funds in recent years and consider acquiring fuel efficient vehicles for the sheriff’s office so deputies aren’t paid extra to use their own vehicles to serve civil documents.