Luzerne County Announces Employee Layoffs Will Not Occur In 2008

Layoffs are still expected to be implemented in 2009

 WILKES-BARRE, PA – The Luzerne County Board of Commissioners announced today that layoffs of county employees will not take place during the final two months of 2008. Instead, Commissioners will work with county agencies as well as outside financial institutions to ensure all departments and services remain funded and staffed through the end of the year.

“I’m relieved that we can at least tell employees they won’t have the threat of layoffs hanging over their heads for the rest of this year,” said Maryanne Petrilla, Chairman of the Luzerne County Board of Commissioners. “However, we will still need to implement significant budget cuts for 2009, and I want everyone to understand that layoffs will be included in those cuts. This is not a scare tactic – it’s very real,” she added.

By seeking to borrow additional revenue to prevent a budget shortfall and layoffs in 2008, Luzerne County will need to carry approximately $4.2 million in debt into next year. If no new revenue is generated to offset that amount, a yet-to-be-determined number of jobs will need to be cut in order to balance the county budget. Tom Pribula, Luzerne County Chief of Budget and Finance, has already recommended at least a 20% reduction in spending in the 2009 budget from prior years.

The County Budget and Finance Office is currently finalizing the department-by-department schedule for the 2009 budget meetings, which will begin next week and be open to the public. A first reading of the proposed 2009 Luzerne County budget is expected by late November.

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