Pocono News Section

Luzerne County Weighs Budget Options

Luzerne County Weighs Budget Options - Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 7:54PM EST

Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Tuesday, Dec 1, 2009 @ 07:54pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- Luzerne county commissioners are still working on a spending plan.

The final version could include tax hikes, layoffs and cuts to services.

Luzerne County is facing a $16-million deficit.

There's a chance of a 10% tax increase and layoffs of 150 workers.

Several plans are still on the table at this point.

Whatever the outcome, it has people talking.

Jack Kratz from Plymouth said, "Why don't they cut the big jobs and drop the taxes? We're paying too many taxes. I'm retired and every time I turn around there's a new tax. Taxes here, taxes there, where does it end? We''ll have to sell our house."

There are several options being considered.

One include selling the Valley Crest Nursing Home property for about $5-million.

There's also a chance they'll sell Luzerne County's interest in the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre minor league baseball franchise.