State Senator Lisa Baker seeks re-election

SBC lands loans for expansion

First Posted: 12/29/2014 Luzerne County government finds itself locked in a self-imposed economic downward spiral and engulfed in an internal political battle, pursuing a &#8220;tax-the-homeowner&#8221; program dictated by six members of council that&#8217;s increasingly unpopular with its citizens.
Although its problems are almost entirely of its own making, telling lies about the scale of the budget deficit and describing the homestead tax break as an entitlement homeowners don&#8217;t deserve were dumb moves.
Disturbingly overdue financial audits, major deficits, 911 failures, prison breaks, payroll debacles, brain drain, continual tax increases and political scandals &#8211; hardly a day goes by without a startling development in the rapid de-evolving of government.
Economically, Luzerne County is arguably in no better shape, or possibly worse, than before home rule stood up. Internal fiscal procedures and controls are lacking, anemic administrative code has little to no value, merit hiring and advancement a facade, initiative and referendum virtually unachievable, taxpayer representation absent, and accountability a four-letter word.
If residents were polled today, I believe the majority would have a negative view of home rule, compared with the 55 percent who were optimistic when the question was placed on the ballot four years ago. I&#8217;m one of them. Let&#8217;s begin a dialogue to change the current charter or possibly the form of government.
Michael Giamber
Fairmount Township

Let’s revisit home rule