WILKES-BARRE - Luzerne County Council members are reviewing a series of options to amend the 2013 budget introduced Tuesday.
While a property tax increase appears off the table, spending priorities and allocations will likely be adjusted. County Manager Robert Lawton has proposed a $260 million spending plan and council plans to adopt a final budget Dec. 11.
Councilman Rick Morelli said he wants to see details that verify revenue estimates are accurate and the budget is balanced. The biggest source of revenue is the property tax, and current-year property tax revenue is estimated at $90.5 million next year, up from $90.3 million in this year's budget.
Federal grants provide $24 million, and state grants provide almost $77 million. The proposed budget also includes $4.3 million from carry-forward surplus funds, a revenue source that has not been used in the previous six county budgets.
Overestimating revenue has contributed to deficits in prior years. The county had a general-fund deficit of $5.6 million in 2010 and $2.8 million in 2011. Mr. Lawton's Oct. 20 budget message forecast a $2 million deficit this year.
Personnel cuts in the county budget would decrease the county employee count from 1,497 to 1,441. The proposed budget allocates $94.8 million in wages and benefits, down from $97.1 million allocated this year and $99.7 million spent in 2011.
While the head count is going down, the budget adds some new jobs. It funds new jobs for six division heads, a full-time chief public defender, full-time chief solicitor and three budget analysts.
The maximum annual salaries for those new jobs range from $75,000 to $90,000.
Controller Walter L. Griffith Jr. has questioned the need for three budget analysts. The wage and benefit cost of those jobs would exceed $160,000 next year.
The controller is required to audit county services and expenses, and Mr. Griffith has complained that Mr. Lawton's budget inadequately funds his office.
Mr. Griffith requested a budget allocation next year of $357,536. Mr. Lawton recommended $277,921.
Contact the writer: mbuffer@citizensvoice.com