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SCRANTON – Lackawanna County commissioners are developing a program designed to save the county money by encouraging its 40 municipalities to buy locally.
“We’re trying to save money to make government more efficient,” majority Commissioner Corey O’Brien said.
Under the program, any supplies that a municipality needs would be obtained by “pooling resources” and buying in bulk local, O’Brien said.
He expects this to save money through discounted prices and it is also expected to give the local economy a boost.
Commissioners hope to implement the program soon. It will be administered by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance, which is developing a Web site in conjunction with the county program, he added.
“This is a voluntary program (for) any government entity,” said Kurt Bauman, government services manager at Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance. Bauman said the program’s concept has been pitched. He did not cite specific municipalities participating in the venture.
Resources such as asphalt, mulch, chlorine to clean pools and sewer treatment chemicals are some items that are expected to be purchased through the program for the first time in January. In the future, office supplies, machinery and vehicles may be able to be purchased through the program and accessibility could be extended to non-profit organizations, he said.
Bulk orders would be made three to four times a year, he said.
He said he expects this to result in “significant savings.”
If successful, the county may seek a joint venture with neighboring Luzerne County, O’Brien added.
In other business, the county seeks to obtain state funding to help finance the PNC Field recovery project.
Work estimated to cost $1.1 million is currently under way. The ball field was plagued by drainage problems during the summer, which resulted in postponement or cancellation of several Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankee games.
The work is expected to be completed in mid-October and the field should be ready for the spring, O’Brien said.
“We’ve been saying it’s important to keep the triple-A franchise in Northeastern Pennsylvania…the field’s future was in jeopardy,” O’Brien said.
County funds are assisting with repairs. O’Brien said the county is “not increasing taxes” as a result of the renovations and that costs incurred “will be reimbursed by the stadium authority.”
To help the county pay for the repairs, Commissioners have submitted a request for $2 million of state assistance.