Luzerne County Council approves budget amendment, contracts and multiple board appointments in unanimous votes

Luzerne County Council unanimously approved a package of budget changes, contracts, property sales and dozens of board appointments during its January voting session.

The council adopted an ordinance amending the 2024 general fund budget to accept an election-integrity grant, approved multiple contracts including a printing contract for real-estate tax bills and a services contract with UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital for juvenile-wellness-court evaluations, authorized modifications to American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)–funded projects, approved the sale of tax-repository parcels, and voted to transfer specific real property to the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority. Council members also completed a long slate of appointments to county authorities, boards and commissions, filling seats for the housing authority, industrial development authority, transit and health boards, assorted advisory panels and municipal authorities.

Why it matters: The votes authorize near-term contracting and spending, finalize personnel and board rosters that steer…