LAWRENCE COUNTY New budget in the works

Commissioners must adopt a new budget by Feb. 13.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County residents should get a glimpse of the county's 2004 finances this week.
Commissioners were expected to meet today to hash out a new budget. They intend to introduce the new spending plan during Tuesday's regular meeting.
Department heads and other elected officials met with commissioners last week to talk about ways to save money or increase revenue.
Commissioner Dan Vogler said everyone has been cooperative, but commissioners still have much work to do.
"We obviously have some very difficult decisions to make regarding taxes and the budget," he said.
County commissioners reopened the budget in early January after discovering the previous board of commissioners passed a spending plan with a 20 percent cut in the salary budgets for most county offices.
The cuts were made in lieu of a 1-mill tax increase proposed in early December.
Looking elsewhere
The new board of commissioners decided to look for other ways to cut costs.
Commissioner Steve Craig said each department has come to the commissioners with cost-saving measures or revenue producing ideas.
He noted that the work will continue even after the 2004 budget is adopted Feb. 13.
"We will continue to look for cost savings as the year goes on," Craig said. "This has been a tough process. We want to end 2004 in a much better position than we have ended 2003."