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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The city administration has begun lobbying council members individually in an attempt to generate support for its financial fixes and avoid state oversight under Act 47.</p><p>Council Vice Chairman Tony Brooks met with city Administrator Ted Wampole on Friday. Councilman Mike Merritt was scheduled for Monday afternoon and councilmen Bill Barrett and Mike Belusko for Tuesday. Wampole said he has not yet heard from council Chairwoman Beth Gilbert.</p><p>&#8220;I want to hear what the administration has to say,&#8221; Belusko said Monday.</p><p>The meetings are not one-sided and council members also are asked for input and suggestions, Wampole said.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a discussion regarding the city&#8217;s overall financial picture,&#8221; he explained.</p><p>Council has had months to consider the measures put forth by Mayor Tony George that focus on long-term restructuring of the debt service. The move would free up millions of dollars in annual debt payments for operations. But council opted for a short-term solution and approved the first of two readings on a bond package to restructure a portion of the debt and cover $5.5 million in repairs to sections of the Solomon Creek wall.</p><p>The administration has been looking for a more comprehensive solution to tackle the problems highlighted by the consultant hired to help guide the city out of its financial mess. If the city continues on its course, it could be declared distressed under Act 47, which means the state would intervene to direct the financial recovery.</p><p>&#8220;Act 47 is still a real possibility,&#8221; Wampole said.</p><p>He referred to the report presented last month by The PFM Group of Philadelphia. It identified increased debt service payments, pension costs and the structural imbalance between what the city spends and what it brings in as the underlying causes of projected deficits.</p><p>Belusko, one of the three council members who supported the short-term deal, attended PFM&#8217;s March 30 public presentation.</p><p>&#8220;I would like another set of eyes looking at this other than PFM,&#8221; he said.</p><p><ins>For other local news stories, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/category/local" target="_blank">click here</a>.</ins></p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre’s administration lobbying council on fixing city’s finances