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Ex-attorney general Kane loses appeal, may soon head to jail

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Tax base gains and losses revealed in new Luzerne County report

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The balance dropped for October, while overtime costs continued to rise for the fire department and Hollenback Golf Course, according to a draft of the city&#8217;s monthly financial report.</p><p>Through 10 months of the year the city posted a balance of $4.6 million according to the report that listed revenues of $40.5 million and $35.9 million in expenses. The city is operating on a $49.4 million balanced budget.</p><p>The monthly balance was $758,872 lower than September and following an annual trend as expenses are paid in the final quarter, noted city Administrator Ted Wampole.</p><p>&#8220;Income is basically drying up,&#8221; Wampole said.</p><p>As of Oct. 31, the city collected approximately 96 percent or $11.1 million of the $11.6 million budgeted this year for property taxes. Earned income tax collection was lower at approximately 83 percent of the $13.1 million budgeted. But the $10.8 million paid to the city was $655,097 more than what was brought in during the same period in 2018.</p><p>Wampole said department heads have been controlling expenses as much as possible and, when some of the revenues are expected to miss their marks, the city could potentially end the year in &#8220;a little better shape than we thought.&#8221;</p><p>Revenues from parking meters was $630,425 or 63 percent of the $1 million budgeted, according to the report. The sale of city-owned property raised $574,656 in revenue, 52 percent of the $1.1 million budgeted. Sales of garbage bags generated $1.2 million in revenue or 75 percent of the $1.6 million budgeted.</p><p>On the expense side of the balance sheet, firefighting overtime costs jumped by approximately $17,500 from September, according to the report.</p><p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not unexpected,&#8221; Wampole said, adding unfilled vacancies, firefighters out on workman&#8217;s compensation and vacation time are driving up the cost.</p><p>At the end of October overtime was $147,521 or 295 percent of the $50,000 budgeted for the year. It also was $108,036 ahead of what was paid out for the same period in 2018.</p><p>Overtime for the Hollenback Golf Course was $9,317 or 372 percent of the $2,500 budgeted, the highest percentage among city departments, according to the report. The course closed at the end of October.</p><p>Wampole said he was checking with the city Finance Department to determine the reason for the high overtime cost for the golf course.</p><p>Other excessive overtime costs included:</p><p>&#8226; Waste collection $169,084 or 225 percent of the $50,000 budgeted.</p><p>&#8226; Waste collection special events double time $29,628 or 197 percent of the $15,000 budgeted.</p><p>&#8226; Ambulance services emergency $15,339 or 192 percent of the $8,000 budgeted.</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>

OT costs climb in Oct. draft financial report for Wilkes-Barre