Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
34 issues with medium priority
Vacant position freezes and vehicle mileage reimbursement cuts
Six long-unfilled District Attorney positions would be frozen, HR restructured under a deputy for about $30,000 in savings, and mileage reimbursement cut for county-owned vehicles.
Probation raises and court budget reductions
Proposals would strip the 3% raise from probation employees who already got grant-funded raises, use leftover grant funds to cover the associated payroll taxes, and cut the courts budget by $80,000 to offset the taxes on those raises.
Reclassification of Director of Communications to part-time
The communications director job was created in 2026 at $70,000 assuming grant funding that never materialized. The proposal would make it a part-time coordinator role capped at $35,000.
Elimination of Voting System Technician position
A newly proposed $48,000 Election Bureau position would be eliminated under the proposed amendment.
Sheriff's Department budget amendment for Capias transports
The Sheriff's Department brings people back from out-of-county on Capias warrants and gets reimbursed for it, but the workload blew past its $60,000 budget. The proposal adds $40,000 in revenue and expense lines so transports can continue without draining the General Fund.
Post-Election Audits and Reconciliation
The board was scheduled to carry out a risk-limiting audit, a 2% audit, and full reconciliation of ballots sent, cast, and counted — the checks that verify the election results are accurate.
Duryea Borough demolition fund request
Duryea spent over $60,000 tearing down a fire-gutted, blighted Main Street building and wants Act 152 demolition funds back. Staff confirmed the fund is suited for exactly this and has $78,005 on hand; expect a council vote soon.
Domestic violence shelter capacity
Resident Matthew John told council that local domestic violence shelters are badly over capacity — only about 30 program beds beyond 90-plus emergency beds — and urged the county to stay engaged on the issue.
Stevenson Street Bridge and Duryea recreation access
The gated, poor-condition Stevenson Street Bridge serves land Duryea Borough bought for recreation. Instead of an expensive ~$8 million road bridge replacement, the county proposes partnering on a recreational trail bridge that could still carry emergency vehicles.
2027 Bureau of Elections staffing
The budget adds two new elections positions (~$48,000 each) funded by the Election Integrity Grant: an office administrator for front-line staff and a voting systems technician for ballot preparation. Council wants job descriptions and flagged a possible overlap with an existing IT elections technician.
Rick Morelli's departure from the Election Board
Board member Rick Morelli announced he'll step down after the November election, leaving a county council seat to fill. He touted the board's improved checks-and-balances with the Bureau and his role in naming Christine Boyle as chair.
Handicap accessibility at Penn Place drop box location
The curb in front of Penn Place blocks people with walkers and wheelchairs from reaching the drop box, and only four parking spots exist. Board members suggested a curb cut and referred the issue to county government.
Solicitor's office budget and death penalty costs
The solicitor's budget jumps about $1.1 million, partly because of potential death penalty cases requiring specially certified conflict attorneys at roughly $100,000 each. Council members questioned whether taxpayers should budget for cases that almost never result in execution — the last county capital conviction was overturned, and the last execution dates to 1938.
Utility and insurance cost increases
Electricity is up 20% and 911's law enforcement liability insurance more than doubled after prior budgets underestimated actual premiums. Council flagged both as budgeting accuracy problems.
Sale of 54 West Union Street to MAHS Real Estate Ventures
County is selling its property at 54 West Union Street in Wilkes-Barre to MAHS Real Estate Ventures. A last-minute amendment requires a lien check on the buyer before the sale closes.
County bridge and road priority list
Council wants engineer Tom Raleigh's updated ranking of the county's roughly 300 bridges and its roads, and suggested dedicated briefings on each. Questions were also raised about a shut bridge with no alternative route and about putting idle Act 13 bridge money to work.
Landlord contact information list (Act 29)
Under a new state law, counties must keep a contact list for real properties, and council had to pass an ordinance to set the $500 fine for false or outdated info. Owner-occupied homes are exempt, so this mostly affects out-of-area landlords, LLCs and trusts.
Act 13 recreation and conservation grants
The county is set to hand out about $230,000 of its $240,000 Act 13 allocation to seven groups — Little League, historical societies, a sanctuary and more — the first such awards in years. Council debated whether 'free and open to the public' should be a strict requirement.
Local Share Account grant requests
Council unanimously asked the state for gaming-fund grants: one for Lower Demunds Road Phase II in Dallas Township, one for an emergency services bundle in Hanover Township.
Lower Demunds Road Phase II grant
Council asked the state for a Local Share Account grant through Dallas Township to fund the next phase of Lower Demunds Road improvements.
Hanover Township emergency services grant request
Council asked the state for a Local Share Account grant to fund an emergency services equipment bundle for Hanover Township.
State grant for salary study
The county wants up to $200,000 from DCED, matched with $200,000 of its own, to fund a salary study and other recommendations from the county's strategic management plan.
Law enforcement presence at polling places
A Hazleton judge of election urged the board to train poll workers on handling law enforcement near polls, saying it could intimidate Latino voters. The Bureau said limited state guidance exists and is covered in training.
Opioid settlement fund allocations
Four local organizations — Berwick Area Transitional Services, Dress for Success, Guardian Angel Recovery House, and Restorative Roots — will receive opioid settlement money for recovery and support services.
PCCD Grant Funding for Probation Department
The county took a $412,581 state grant to fund probation raises and three new pretrial officers, but only the 2026 slice ($260,482) needs action now. The catch: when the grant ends in 2028, the general fund — your tax dollars — picks up roughly $83,000 plus pension costs. Council members weighed that against jail savings of about $190 a day for every person diverted from incarceration.
Next Generation 911 Funding
Council asked state lawmakers to reauthorize the state's 911 funding law with a bigger surcharge so next-generation 911 services can be funded across Pennsylvania.
County ethics charter amendment on official stock trading
A citizen-submitted charter amendment would bar Luzerne County elected officials and employees from trading stocks or making prediction-market bets based on nonpublic information from their county jobs, and require annual public reporting of ethics complaints and related trades. The board was scheduled to decide whether it makes the November ballot.
Township supervisor expansion questions (Sugarloaf, Jenkins, and others)
Three separate questions would ask voters whether to expand township Boards of Supervisors from three members to five — in Sugarloaf Township (citizen petition), Jenkins Township (supervisors themselves), and a township question submitted by Fearn Leard. More supervisors could mean more representation but also more government cost.
Hotel Tax Auditing Contract with e-collect
The county is considering a no-upfront-cost contract with e-collect to audit and identify hotels and Airbnbs not paying lodging taxes; the firm keeps 25% of what it collects.
911 Surcharge Increase Urged
Council discussed a resolution urging state lawmakers to raise the monthly 911 surcharge on cell phones from $1.95 to $2.20 to fund next-generation 911 services.
2026 Mid-Year Budget Report
Revenues are running at 78% of budget and spending at 52% at mid-year; real estate tax collections are strong at 90% of a raised collection-rate target, and no tax increase is planned for 2026.
Voter ID at polling places
Board Member Morelli was scheduled to discuss a survey gauging voter opinions on presenting voter ID at polling places — an early-stage conversation about election procedures.
Election readiness: poll workers and voting machines
Bureau reports were scheduled on poll worker staffing and voting machine status. With new equipment requiring mandatory training for all poll workers this year, adequate staffing and preparation matter for how smoothly Election Day runs.
Election Bureau Operations Report
The board's monthly report from the election bureau director covers how election administration is going ahead of upcoming elections. Recent context from December includes a new campaign finance software rollout and drop box camera issues.