125215353_web1_TTL020318Hotel-sterling2CMYK

Zoning hearing set for new hotel project on former Hotel Sterling site in Wilkes-Barre

125217581_web1_Wilkes-Barre-logo

WB playgrounds reopen today, but not hoops, nets or splash pad

LEHMAN TWP. &mdash; Additional revenue and unexpected savings helped Lake-Lehman School District craft a 2020-21 budget that looked even better than the preliminary budget passed last month &mdash; and that budget had been an improvement over an earlier version in February that anticipated a big tax increase.
				The School Board voted at Monday&rsquo;s meaning for a plan that spends $32.67 million and only takes in $31.3 million. Business Consultant Tom Melone outlined changes in the past month that not only avoided any tax hike, but could mean a larger than-expected fund balance at the end of the fiscal year June 30, 2021.
				The proposed final budget passed last month had a shortfall of $2 million, while the final budget passed Monday has a shortfall of $1.3 million.
				With schools closed from mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the district saved about $250,000 in salaries and benefits, partly because of reduced need of substitute teachers, Melone said. The closure also saved about $100,000 in supplies, and about $175,000 in transportation spending.
				Health insurance costs also came in about $600,000 below expected costs this year, and the district lowered the amount being budgeted for next year from $5.2 million to $4.5 million.
				And the district anticipates about $491,000 in grants from federal dollars provided to help districts with the added costs of dealing with COVID-19.
				All told, the budget passed Monday projects the district will have enough of a fund balance to cover the shortfall in spending over income, and still end with a fund balance of about $3.8 million next June.
				The board also voted to drop penalties for property tax payments made after Nov. 13.

Good news helps Lake-Lehman avoid tax hike