Luzerne County Manager Robert Lawton debuted an annual budget Saturday, nearly a week after its deadline, submitting a plan to spend $122.2 million, maintain the current tax rate next year and reduce the number of county jobs by 61.
The 2013 budget, originally due Monday, would eliminate 41 vacant jobs, lay off 33 current employees and create 13 new jobs. The county employee count this year has already dropped from 1,610 to 1,524.
County council must adopt a final budget between Nov. 15 and Dec. 15. But Mr. Lawton said he plans to lay off employees in upcoming weeks, before the 2013 budget is adopted, because "the proposed workforce reductions are grounded in right-sizing principles."
Mr. Lawton is looking to trim 2012 expenses to avoid a shortfall at the end of the year. He also wants $4.35 million in surplus funds available at the end of year to carry over as revenue for next year.
Monetizing delinquent tax liens would generate $5.5 million, cover shortfalls and produce a year-end surplus, along with taking $2.35 million from the workers' compensation fund, Mr. Lawton explained.
Another one-time source of revenue is $900,000 left from a tax-increment finance program administered by the county redevelopment authority to help finance the Coal Street construction project in Wilkes-Barre. Because of one-time revenue sources, the county will continue "right-sizing" its workforce through 2014, Mr. Lawton said.
The monetization option allows a third party to buy delinquent tax liens from the county for about 90 percent of what is owed. The county would receive an influx of cash, and the buyer would keep 100 percent of future payments of overdue tax bills.
The budget submitted Saturday didn't identify who was being laid off or which jobs would be eliminated, but more information will be provided Monday, Mr. Lawton said. A position table will show by office the allocation of positions by title and salary level funded in the proposed budget, Mr. Lawton said. The budget's personnel cuts also include a decision announced a week ago to eliminate 18 correctional officers.
Mr. Lawton said he also will submit plans to spend other county funds, in additional to the general fund. Those plans involve capital projects funded with bond proceeds, human services agencies and the community development office.
The 2013 general fund budget submitted is $383,490 less than this year's budget. It includes a $2.8 million increase in the cost to pay off debt and a $2 million increase in employee health insurance costs, Mr. Lawton said.
The proposed Luzerne County budget is posted on the county website, www.luzernecounty.org.
Contact the writer: mbuffer@citizensvoice.com