Luzerne County Councilman Rick Williams said he’s “thrilled” voters approved two county home rule charter changes and partially granted the third.
Williams, who pushed for the revisions of the nearly 5-year-old customized government structure, said he did not know what response to expect.
“I was concerned the questions were too confusing and that voters wouldn’t understand them or choose to vote,” Williams said Wednesday.
The change that received the most support will require a majority of council votes — six instead of four — to amend the county budget in the years following council elections.
A total 111,650 votes were cast for this question, and 81,143, or 72.68 percent, approved it, according to unofficial results.
The second alteration will lift a ban requiring county board/authority/commission members to wait one year after leaving their seats to run for county office. This change was split into two questions, one applying to authorities and the other to boards and commissions.
Unofficial results indicate 115,052 voters weighed in on this change applying to boards and commissions, and 66,706, or 57.98 percent, approved it. A total 115,207 residents cast a vote on the authority question, and 52.64 percent, or 60,648, agreed to the change, results show.
The final amendment, also split into two questions, allows employees of companies with county contracts to serve on authorities, boards and commissions at the council’s discretion following mandatory public disclosure and discussion.
The change applying to authorities was approved by 50.74 percent, or 57,066, of the 112,460 voters who cast ballots.
However, the proposal to apply the change to boards and commissions was rejected by 50.73 percent, or 57,584, of the 113,515 voters who answered that question.
“I don’t understand why the question for boards and commissions didn’t pass, but the outcome does improve things for making appointments to authorities,” Williams said.
The amendment involving the budget was based on a concern that four council members could hold up implementation of a budget in the years following council elections. Budget delays force the county to postpone the mailing of tax bills and could lead to additional interest payments on tax anticipation loans, he said.
The push to allow council discretion on appointments stemmed from complaints that qualified citizens were turned away from serving.
