Pocono News Section

Luzerne Co. Budget Update

Luzerne Co. Budget Update - Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 8:16PM EST

Thursday, Oct 16, 2008 @ 08:16pm EST

Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne Co. -

It could mean service cutbacks. Luzerne County officials are scrambling, trying to figure out how to pay their employees and provide services. The County Commissioners applied for a loan of $16 million dollars to keep the county operating through the end of the year. But Judge Ann Lokuta denied that request. She did give the okay for a loan of about $5.3 million, but that will only keep the county running through November, two more paychecks. Now county managers are trying to keep their offices open.

Eyewitness News spoke to County District Attorney Jacke Musto Carroll. She said, "I can tell employees are very very nervous and scared. They don’t know how they're going to have a job. They don’t know how to pay family bills. I understand how they feel. Our office operates for public safety. I don't know what's going to happen."

The Commissioners will hold an emergency meeting next Tuesday at 2:30 to talk about the situation and update taxpayers.