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Luzerne County divorce master position saving splitting couples money

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WB ceremony marks Hanukkah’s start

<p>With a week to go before the Dec. 11 Luzerne County 2019 budget adoption, county council is set to start altering the administration&#8217;s proposed budget on Tuesday.</p><p>The voting meeting and work session start at 6 p.m. in the courthouse on River Street in Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>Council members have suggested a range of amendments throughout the budget, according to the agenda posted on the council section at <a href="https://www.luzernecounty.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12042018-1328" target="_blank">www.luzernecounty.org</a>.</p><p>Without revisions, the proposed $140.95 million general fund operating budget would increase county real estate taxes 3 percent. That equates to $18 more annually on a $100,000 property, with the total tax bill rising from $597.54 to $615.47.</p><p>County Manager C. David Pedri has said the hike would generate an additional $3.15 million to cover $2.5 million in increased expenses and a revenue decline.</p><p><strong>Other meetings</strong></p><p>The county&#8217;s Blighted Property Review Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the courthouse. A workshop for interested municipalities will follow at 6 p.m.</p><p>The committee is compiling a database of vacant eyesore properties that may be addressed by the county Redevelopment Authority if the property owners fail to correct problems.</p><p><strong>Courthouse tree</strong></p><p>The county is inviting the public to attend the lighting of the official county Christmas tree in the restored courthouse rotunda at 6 p.m. Thursday.</p><p class="n_ 86 v2">The free event will feature musical performances, &#8220;a special guest from the North Pole&#8221; and light refreshments. Benjamin Harned, son of court executive secretary Barbara Harned, will light this year&#8217;s tree.</p><p><strong>Union talks</strong></p><p>Union contract negotiations are underway for four county government collective bargaining agreements that expire the end of this year, according to county Administrative Services Division Head David Parsnik.</p><p>These agreements cover the following: probation officers and domestic relations support officers represented by their own Court Appointed Professional Employees Association; assistant district attorneys/public defenders under Teamsters Local 401; court-appointed support workers belonging to AFSCME; and prison correctional officers and other staff in LIUNA Local 1310.</p><p>Parsnik said the administration is scheduled to hold its first negotiating session with prison union representatives on Dec. 13, and talks have been ongoing with the other three unions.</p><p>County council is not directly involved in the negotiations but has the final say on union contract approval.</p><p><strong>Board vacancy</strong></p><p>Frank Conyngham has resigned from an unpaid seat on the authority board that oversees the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township.</p><p>Council may fill the seat Tuesday.</p><p><strong>Manager forum</strong></p><p>Pedri has scheduled his third annual public forum at 5 p.m. Dec. 19 in the courthouse. The session is required by the county&#8217;s customized home rule government structure, which will mark its seventh anniversary in January. Pedri is the second non-interim manager under home rule.</p><p><strong>Retirees</strong></p><p>Council last week publicly thanked three retiring employees &#8212; road/bridge maintenance repairman Paul Binker, road/bridge equipment operator Ronald Miller and deputy sheriff Susan Tomulaitis.</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/2018/12/web1_luzernecountycourthouse.jpeg.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"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Luzerne County Council set to start altering the proposed 2019 budget Tuesday