Lawton releases no-tax-hike budget around 7 a.m.

Luzerne County Manager Robert Lawton worked at the county courthouse through the night and delivered a no-tax-hike proposed 2013 budget to council shortly before 7 a.m. today.
The $122,249,099 budget reduces spending and revenue $383,490.
The proposal will result in 33 layoffs and the elimination of 41 vacant funded positions.
Though the budget amount is about the same as this year, next year's plan must absorb millions of dollars in increased costs for required union raises, debt repayments, health insurance and expenses insufficiently funded this year, Lawton said.
While 74 positions will be cut, the net reduction is 61 because 13 new jobs were added -- six division heads mandated by the charter, three budget and finance analysts and four court clerical positions.
The 33 layoffs include 18 filled and unfilled correctional officer positions already announced at the county prison.
Lawton said he identified several revenue streams this week to fill the $6.3 million shortfall he faced on Monday, when he asked county council for additional time to prepare his submission.
County Council must adopt a budget between Nov. 15 and Dec. 15.