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Luzerne County Council would chop $1 million from the proposed 2019 budget and reduce a 3 percent real estate tax hike if it approves minimum suggested amendments Tuesday, analysis of the dozens of possible changes shows.

The cuts would rise to $1.69 million if council supports all maximum reductions pitched by Council members Harry Haas or Tim McGinley, the records show.

In addition, council amendments have been proposed to:

• Save $55,424 by providing county Manager C. David Pedri with $110,250 for raises of up to 2 percent for nonunion employees under his direction instead of the $165,726 he requested for pay increases up to 3 percent.

• Adjust various revenue projections up and down for a net increase of $85,472.

• Strip $235,676 in requests for new equipment and building repairs from the general fund budget so those items can be purchased from the dwindling capital fund, which may be bolstered with some of a $5.8 million contingency that has not yet been earmarked by council.

The administration’s proposed $140.95 million budget includes an additional $3.15 million in revenue from the tax hike, which means council must come up with $1.05 million in cuts or new revenue to reduce the tax increase by a percentage.

Capital cases

One of the budget amendment targets is funding for the processing of two pending death penalty cases.

The public defender’s office asked to increase its examinations/witnesses allotment from $85,000 to $100,000 for its handling of one of the capital cases. A proposed council amendment would provide $90,000.

The district attorney sought $100,000 more for expenses related to both pending capital cases next year, for a new total of $110,000. If approved by a council majority, the amendment would allot a total $70,000.

Court administration requested $70,000 more due to the defense it must fund in one of the death penalty cases, for a new total allocation of $200,000. A proposed council amendment would keep this earmark at $130,000.

In all, the amendments would trim $226,800 to $245,150 from court branches, which include probation services and domestic relations, analysis shows.

Solicitor cuts

The highest proposed cut of a single category is for special legal services in the law division.

County Chief Solicitor Romilda Crocamo requested a $675,000 allocation in 2019, or 10 percent less, to cover litigation settlements and outside legal counsel fees that fall within the county’s insurance deductibles. She met with council in closed-door executive session in October to discuss the unresolved cases prompting her to seek that amount.

Haas proposed an amendment cutting the allocation by $500,000, for a new total $175,000. McGinley’s amendment would provide $600,000, the agenda shows.

In the county conflict counsel office, Haas proposed cutting special legal services from $320,000 to $100,000, while McGinley’s amendment suggests lowering the allocation to $250,000.

Other departments

Funding for the county prison system would be cut a total $112,100 if the proposed amendments pass, including a lowering of the outside inmate housing earmark from $275,000 to $200,000.

Amendments eliminating $56,085 to $94,085 from the election bureau’s request also have been proposed, including removal of funding for an election services associate position created this year.

Among the other proposed total department cuts: district attorney, $68,000; road and bridge, $62,800; engineers, $55,300; sheriff, $55,000; building and grounds, $40,000; prothonotary, $39,700; and assessor’s office, $30,750.

Other amendments would reduce the pot to pay refunds for successful property assessment challenges from a requested $500,000 to $450,000 or $400,000.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the courthouse on River Street in Wilkes-Barre. Council is set to vote on the 2019 budget Dec. 11.

Luzerne County Courthouse
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_luzcocourthouse01.jpg.optimal.jpgLuzerne County Courthouse

By Jennifer Learn-Andes

[email protected]

Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.