NEW CASTLE Officials work together on heavy county issues

The new commissioners say party affiliation won't be an issue with them.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Just over a month ago Dan Vogler, Ed Fosnaught and Steve Craig were opponents vying to be elected as Lawrence County commissioners.
In about two weeks, they must put those election differences aside to face some heady issues in county government.
A looming budget deficit, as well as the future of the county nursing home, are awaiting all three.
As the newly elected commissioners, all three say they are up to the challenge.
"I will make some mistakes, but hopefully not too many," said Vogler, who was the top vote-getter in November. "What will be important is that I learn from those mistakes."
Vogler, a Republican, said he expects his fellow commissioners to put party affiliation aside and to work together. The Republican party will hold the majority of county commissioner seats for the first time in nearly 20 years.
Craig, the Democrat, said he also doesn't expect political party to be an issue when he takes office.
"It would be different if I didn't already know these two guys. I don't think it will be an issue," he said.
Fosnaught also agrees that party affiliation should not make a difference. He will be serving his third term.
"I don't know if the Republican Party needs to play a role, but I do think conservative thinking needs to play a role," Fosnaught said. "I don't want to increase taxes, and I don't want to increase spending."
2004 budget
But that's exactly what the current board, which includes Fosnaught, is likely to do at year's end for the 2004 budget.
A 1-mill property tax increase has been proposed by the current commissioners, and they are looking at spending about $1.1 million more next year at the county nursing home if the numbers of patients don't increase.
Craig sees the tax increase as a deficit because he doesn't want to raise taxes.
"We've ended the year in the hole," he said. "I don't know why anybody's not talking about it."
But he sees the uncertain financial future as a challenge.
"There's only one place to go. Up," he said. "We want to rebuild confidence."
He said he intends to look at staffing and would be interested in cutting positions through attrition. But he would also like to increase salaries for longtime employees.
"People we have in county government are tremendously talented and hard-working, but we pay lousy," said Craig, who was once the county's planning director.
Vogler said he wants to start looking to other similarly sized counties to see what has made them successful and possibly model some programs.
Fosnaught said he doesn't plan to take on any big projects in the next four years.
"I'd like to sit back and watch the fruits of what this board has done. I think this board has made some mistakes, but I think we've also done some good things," Fosnaught said.
He said he believes countywide reassessment was successful.
Hill View Manor
All three realize that they will have to deal with the county nursing home, Hill View Manor.
Outgoing commissioners, Brian Burick and Roger DeCarbo have proposed closing the facility, which is low on patients and funding. Fosnaught wants to keep it open.
Craig said he hasn't made up his mind on the matter.
Vogler said he's also keeping an open mind on the issue but says he won't second-guess the current commissioners.
"Those gentlemen have full authority," he said. "I don't take issue with them taking steps like this.
All three realize they will have many issues to deal with when taking office in January.
"What makes me hopeful is that we have a nice balance," Vogler said. "Ed has been in office for eight years, and Steve worked for years in county government. I probably have the steepest learning curve going into this."
cioffi@vindy.com