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The cities, boroughs and townships in Luzerne County are cash-strapped, and here is part of the problem. Take Wilkes-Barre, for example: The fire chief receives $94,045 and his deputy receives $77,122; the police chief receives $94,045; the mayor gets $84,779; and the city administrators gets $87,550 per year. Also, the deputy administrator receives $77,250 per year.

I feel these salaries are exorbitant and should be cut in half.

Thank goodness for Wilkes-Barre Township Mayor Carl Kuren, who stated that in the future he would not give the fire department more than it needed. Why would anyone give more money than needed? Vote him out!

Then you have the layoffs of the non-essential employees at the Luzerne County Courthouse. What are “non-essential” employees? Family and friends, I suppose.

Thank goodness Luzerne County Councilman Rick Morelli (increasing gun permits from $20 to $150); Councilman Jim Bobeck ($5 fee for every car in the household) and Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton (“gas gate” – never to be solved) are not running again!

Barney K. Smith

Wilkes-Barre