Pocono News Section

Luzerne County Budget 'In A Fix'

Luzerne County Budget 'In A Fix' - Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 5:29PM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Wednesday, Oct 15, 2008 @ 05:29pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- Luzerne County leaders received word they won't be able to borrow the amount of money supposedly needed for the county to function through the year's end. Luzerne County Commissioner Maryann Petrilla said in an exclusive interview with Eyewitness News the county may only be able to make the next two payrolls.

Leaders went to court last week asking for a $16 million line of credit. Judge Ann Lokuta, through an opinion issued Tuesday, granted the county funding not to exceed $5.3 million. It's less than one third the amount county leaders had requested.

The projected lapse will apparently hamstring the county's spending plan for the remainder of the year. There are six remaining payrolls. Commissioner Petrilla indicated emergency plans will be activated in response to county accounts that will dry up. She pointed to serious concerns layoffs will result from the absence of funding.

In her court opinion, Judge Lokuta criticized the county for overspending while the rest of the county's residents experience a "tightening of the belt." She blasted county leaders for polarizing the issue with political infighting.