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Pa. legislators return Monday with budget crisis looming

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<p>Luzerne County Council&#8217;s strategic initiatives committee has developed a dreamy set of long-range goals and priorities that are set for council adoption Tuesday.</p><p>The package opens with a vision statement saying the county is a safe and healthy community with a diverse, prosperous and sustainable economy and also:</p><p>&#8226; Offers a good quality of life</p><p>&#8226; Preserves the natural environment, local history and culture</p><p>&#8226; Protects personal liberties</p><p>&#8226; Has a bright future that attracts people and encourages thoughtful growth</p><p>The goals list more than three pages of suggestions in a myriad of topics.</p><p>Under the category of community health and safety, for example, the committee proposes development of a countywide public safety plan; providing leadership to target the drug crisis; and promoting healthy lifestyles by eliminating smoking on most county properties and eliminating high-sugar drinks from vending machines on county property.</p><p>The goals initially proposed a full smoking ban, but some council members had expressed concerns about prohibiting jurors and stressed-out prison officers from lighting up.</p><p>Some of the ideas under the economic development category: strive for uniform countywide zoning and subdivision/land development ordinances; promote train excursions and other transportation modes; and convene periodic summits to discuss improvements to attract new business and industry.</p><p>The county should participate in a regional transportation entity to improve freight rail infrastructure and seek passenger rail service, the document added.</p><p>Other recommendations under this infrastructure and environment category include promoting construction of sidewalks and trails throughout the county; leading efforts to provide high-speed Internet service countywide; and advocating for the clean-up of acid mine drainage sites and separation of combined storm and sanitary sewer lines.</p><p>The longest list falls under the &#8220;good county government services and practices category,&#8221; including:</p><p>&#8226; Create a county reserve with a &#8220;healthy balance&#8221;</p><p>&#8226; Aggressively identify new revenue sources to reduce reliance on property taxes, including advertising on county property and vehicles, enacting a countywide sales tax and adopting a $5 annual vehicle registration fee that would be directly linked to a reduction in property tax</p><p>&#8226; Encourage further street renaming and renumbering to avoid confusion and improve emergency dispatching</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Luzerne County Courthouse </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_luzerne-county-courthouse-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Luzerne County Courthouse </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>VIEW THE GOALS</strong></p><p>The proposed strategic plan is posted in the Sept. 12 Luzerne County Council voting session agenda packet at <a href="http://www.luzernecounty.org/county/luzerne-county-council/meeting-agenda" 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 Council set to vote on strategic plan