Lycoming County Board Chairman Promises Action on Facility Waste
WIILLIAMSPORT, PA – Lycoming County Commissioner Scott Metzger has been calling for a major overhaul in how county funds are utilized, citing the current inefficiencies of the Pre-Release Center (PRC). With a staggering annual cost of $2 million and a disappointingly low occupancy rate of just 35-40%, Metzger argues that the facility is a drain on county resources that could be better used elsewhere.
The commissioner isn’t mincing words about the PRC’s financial burden on taxpayers, pointing out the mismatch between the costs incurred and the benefits delivered. “At such low occupancy rates, how can we justify this to the people footing the bill?” Metzger questioned, highlighting a pressing need for change. The County’s top Executive want’s change, and experience continual opposition from other county officials and solicitors who participate on boards as a service.
But Metzger isn’t just critiquing the current setup; he’s envisioning a more effective path forward. Among his proposals is the idea to repurpose the underused facility into something that could serve the community more meaningfully, such as a mental health center or a juvenile facility. Such transformations, he suggests, would not only optimize financial expenditure but also address critical social service gaps in the community like mental health.
On Friday, September 12, 2025, Board Chairman Metzger reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring taxpayers receive value for their money. He emphasized that the underutilization of the facility represents an unnecessary burden on taxpayers and called for measures to address this issue.
As Metzger’s proposals make their way into public discourse, the question remains whether Lycoming County will seize this opportunity for change. Could reimagining the PRC be the key to unlocking greater community benefits? Only time will tell, but Metzger’s push for efficiency and effectiveness is certainly stirring conversations across the county.
Real Talk: YA HEARD!
In a significant budget shuffle, the 2025 allocation for the Pre-Release Center (PRC) has been set at $2,966,531, marking a notable reduction of $337,427 from the previous year’s $3,303,958. This financial adjustment has sparked a broader conversation about transparency and accountability in Lycoming County.
Despite the county’s public references to a $2 million expenditure, the actual budget tells a different story, hinting at potential issues of oversight and efficiency. For local taxpayers, this raises critical questions about how much fraud, waste, and abuse they are willing to tolerate. Understanding not only where tax dollars are going but also how they might be misused is a responsibility citizens cannot afford to ignore.
The county’s recent decisions paint a complex picture. Proposals from the District Attorney to fund a new juvenile detention center have been dismissed, while the county remains without a dedicated mental health facility. Meanwhile, with 40% of the current inmate population on psychotropic medications, concerns about the adequacy of mental health support. Warden Brad Shoemaker has characterized the increase of numbers of medicated inmates to increased services while the county continues to use jail power to deal with the mentally ill.
Adding to the controversy, the Lycoming County courts have been placing pre-sentenced inmates in the minimum-security PRC, raising alarms about potential compromises to public safety. It’s only recently that PRC policies have started to accommodate inmates with disabilities through access to work programs. President Judge Nancy Butts, defending the move, “They are innocent until proven until proven guilty”, underscoring the county’s thirst for cheap inmate labor in the RMS landfill while willfully sacrificing public safety. Furthermore, this is just an additional reason for voters to question retaining her in the November Election.
Lycoming Ya Heard.com has been diligently monitoring these developments and bringing them to public attention. Their efforts extend to holding local employers accountable for their compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, ensuring inclusivity and fairness within the system.
“We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: if you give money to clowns, you only get a circus,” Lycoming Ya Heard.com declared. This call for accountability resonates louder than ever, echoing the need for transparency and reform in the county’s handling of public funds.
The Williamsport Sun-Gazette was not in attendance for the Prison Board meeting, but we were, ya heard. Perhaps, the local newspaper will include additional cartoons or crossword puzzles to be buried in the county landfill.
Ya Heard.
