web1_Brian-Costello.jpg

W-B Area gets first approval from state on new high school site

web1_10559663_754775864561765_8385839483375801504_n.jpg

Trucksville firefighter charged with sexual assault of girl, 13

<p>Luzerne County government spent 41 percent of its $134.85 million budget and collected 82 percent of projected revenues as of June 30, according to a newly released mid-year report.</p><p>County council&#8217;s administrative code mandates a mid-year report by Aug. 15. County Manager C. David Pedri is scheduled to present the report at Tuesday&#8217;s council meeting.</p><p>In a summary, Pedri said the administration projects the county will end 2017 within budget.</p><p>The lion&#8217;s share of the revenue comes from real estate taxes. The budget counts on $118.05 million from taxes, and $103.22 million &#8212; or 87 percent &#8212; was received as of June 30, the report shows.</p><p>Remaining revenue sources include fees, fines, rent, grants and reimbursements.</p><p>Personnel costs are the largest budgeted expense, at $68.8 million, followed by $26.3 million for debt repayments, the report shows.</p><p>Budgeted staffing expenses include $10.58 million for health insurance, $7.7 million for retirement benefits, $1.4 million for overtime, $1 million for holiday pay and $463,791 for length-of-service, or longevity, bonuses.</p><p>Overall, the county spent $29.2 million, or 42 percent, of the personnel allocation by June 30. However, this percentage is impacted by a lack of any payments for retirement benefits during the period, the report shows.</p><p>The report notes overtime spending totaled $807,618, or 57 percent of the budgeted amount, because some departments have been forced to increase hours to prepare for the moving of records to a new county-owned storage building in Hanover Township.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_luzerne-county-courthouse-6.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_luzerne-county-courthouse-6.jpg</photo0><caption0>The Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jennifer Learn-Andes</p><p>jandes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>ON THE WEB</strong></p><p>Luzerne County&#8217;s mid-year financial report will be posted at <a href="http://www.luzernecounty.org/" target="_blank">www.luzernecounty.org</a>.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Luzerne County releases mid-year financial report