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Wyoming resident Paul Swiderski will run TCS New York City Marathon to raise money for American Cancer Society

Misericordia introduces MARTTI

I&#8217;m writing this letter to urge the Luzerne County Council&#8217;s current members to not raise taxes in the upcoming 2016 budget.Everyone understands the challenges council has with its financial problems and trying to correct the sins of the past. The current council members need to be applauded for taking on a the $400 million mountain of debt that they inherited along with transitioning to a new form of government. The bottom line is the answer to balancing the budget each year should not and cannot be going back to the taxpayers with higher county taxes.With home rule currently going into its fifth year, the expectations are that expenses should be under control and new revenue sources should be in place. With approximately 80 percent of the budget costs fixed, Manager Robert Lawton should have a better handle on forecasting and better ideas as to how to run a county within its means.Recently county council received the new five-year-plan from PFM (Public Financial Management). This 250-page document has a lot of good ideas in how to get Luzerne County back on track and where it needs to be financially. The county manager and council need to commit to following this plan and enacting the ideas that are out in front of them by an outside financial consulting firm.Please understand, I&#8217;m not saying that the task of balancing this $129 million budget each and every year without a tax increase is easy. It&#8217;s not! Unfortunately we cannot keep going back to the taxpayers and asking them to bail us out each and every year. Lastly, let&#8217;s not forget the seniors who once again did not get a pay raise with Social Security.Therefore, no tax increase.Robert SchneeCandidate for Luzerne County CouncilSugarloaf Township

Letter to the Editor: Reject tax increase for Luzerne County in 2016, urges council candidate