Lawton proposes a 4-percent tax hike for 2015
By Jennifer Learn-Andes, The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
The increase would equate to
Lawton's proposal would increase the budget
According to his budget summary letter, the property tax hike is partly needed to cover the following increases:
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Next year's overall pension fund subsidy is estimated to increase from
The county pension fund has been portrayed as healthier than many public sector plans because it is 88-percent funded and has grown to a record high value around
Officials attribute the rise in next year's subsidy to a change in the fund's assumed investment return from 7.5 percent to a more realistic 7.25 percent. Last year's return was 6.4 percent, and continued overestimating could result in a sudden multimillion dollar spike down the road, officials say.
In his letter, Lawton said the increases were partially offset by a
His proposal eliminates 15 secretary positions in district judge offices scattered around the county, reducing overall staffing in these 16 offices from 49 to 34, according to a position listing attached to the budget.
Some county council members have questioned staffing levels in these offices in the past, but court officials have pointed to the caseloads as justification.
Overall spending on district judge offices would decrease
Lawton's proposed budget also adds a clerk in the civil court record office, eliminates a vacant district attorney's office detective position, refuses a request for eight part-time 911 telecommunicators and adds a
Spending on the county prison system would increase
The increase largely stems from a rising allocation for overtime. The county budgeted
Property taxes -- the main revenue source -- are budgeted at
What's next
County council, which has final say on the spending plan, will hold its first of several public work sessions to review budget options at
Lawton was out of town Wednesday. County Budget/Finance Division Head Brian Swetz emailed the proposed 2015 general fund operating budget to council around
At least six council members must adopt a budget
Obtaining six votes for any tax hike will be a challenge. Four of the 11 sitting council members voted against this year's 8-percent hike, which was the maximum increase allowed by home rule:
Morelli, the council chair, stressed he and his colleagues have two more months to explore options.
"We're far from where we will be at the end of it. I think we need to do everything we can to not go after taxpayers again asking for an increase," he said.
Morelli said all council members will be encouraged to propose specific alternatives and said the public expects them to "work together without finger-pointing and the blame game."
Dobash issued a letter Wednesday night saying she won't support any tax increase.
Morelli said he will challenge Dobash and others to provide detailed proposals on how they'd close the gap -- not blanket, across-the-board cuts that would jeopardize the services provided by some departments, including 911.
"I don't see how anyone could responsibly commit to no hike yet without analyzing. We just got this handed to us a few hours ago," he said.
Councilman
"This resigns the county to another year of mediocrity instead of making a sound investment to move forward. We're barely scraping by, and we're not going to impress anyone on
Lawton's budget letter says a bond rating is "essential" to restructure the
Reach
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