Commissioners: Why pay the state when the state owes us?

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Why pay money the county owes Pennsylvania when the state is millions of dollars behind on payments it owes to Lawrence County?

Lawrence County commissioners agreed at their caucus meeting Thursday that it makes no sense. They will ask county Solicitor Tom Leslie whether they can legally follow county Controller David Gettings’ suggestion that the county stop sending money it collects for fees and licenses to the state and use it instead to meet current expenses. Then, when the state again begins reimbursing what it owes to the county, the county would repay what it owes to the state.

“If it’s legal, I say let’s do it,” Commissioner Dan Vogler said.

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