Happy Birthday, America!  We spent the morning of July 4th at the annual parade in Mountain Top.  My father drove as my daughter tossed candy to kids on the road side, and we got to say

hi to a lot of friends along the route in Wright Township.   Thank you to Mountain Top on the Move and other volunteers for another successful  event.   

                                                                  Sincerely,  Harry 

harry.haas@luzernecounty.org

(570)825-1634

Click here for Council Agenda


Priorities for 2018

At the Courthouse Restoration Dedication in May

Click here for tv interview

Councilman Harry Haas

Luzerne County councilman

September Council Meetings: 11; 25 @ 6

Here are my priorities and action steps for this year:

1) Continue to look for streams of revenue apart from property taxation (84% of county revenues come from property tax, which is inherently unfair) and cut wasteful spending. 

I DID NOT SUPPORT THE $5 VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEE.  MY IDEA ABOUT OFFSETTING THE EXTRA FEE WITH A PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION OF $5 WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE COUNCIL MAJORITY.


2) Host legislative round tables for our state and federal delegations to communicate county needs of funding local government, providing human services, and fostering community development.

THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MET WITH TWO OF OUR AREA REPRESENTATIVES THIS YEAR;

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET DOES NOT RESTORE CUTS MADE TO COUNTY

COURTS FROM TWO YEARS AGO. 


3) Lanuch the Blighted Property Review Committee to assist municipalities in fighting blight.

THE BPRC HOSTED A WORKSHOP ON SEPT 24 TO HELP MUNICIPALITIES WITH THE APPLICATION PROCESS.  SEVEN WERE REPRESENTED, AND THE BPRC IS READY TO BEGIN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS.  A SECOND WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 19 AT 6PM.


4) Collaborate with other counties and provide leadership to fight the opioid crisis.

 I ATTENDED THIS YEAR'S ANNUAL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' CONFERENCE IN AUGUST.   THE FEDERAL OVERNMENT HAS ALLOCATED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO PENNSYLVANIA, BUT FINANCES IS JUST ONE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM .