Editing Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania (section)

=== County government ===
{{see also|Luzerne County Council|Luzerne County Manager}}
[[File:Luzerne County Courthouse flickr.jpg|thumb|[[Luzerne County Courthouse]] houses the [[Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Luzerne County]] government.]]
The [[Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Luzerne County]] [[government]] operates out of Wilkes-Barre. The city is the [[county seat|administrative center]] of Luzerne County. The county government is responsible for imposing taxes, providing services to the public, and administering laws and regulations. They govern over a population of nearly 320,000 people. Many government offices are situated within the [[Luzerne County Courthouse|county courthouse]] (located at 200 North River Street in Downtown Wilkes-Barre). The Luzerne County [[Pennsylvania courts of common pleas|Court of Common Pleas]] also operates out of the same building.

On November 2, 2010, the voters of Luzerne County held a [[referendum]] on the question of [[List of Pennsylvania municipalities and counties with home rule charters, optional charters, or optional plans|home rule]]. A total of 51,413 (55.25%) voted in favor of home rule, while another 41,639 (44.75%) voted against the move. This vote was the direct result of the corruption, wasteful spending, higher property taxes, and out-of-control debt facing the county.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.luzernecounty.org/county/departments_agencies/bureau_of_elections/election-results-archive |title=Election Results Archive |publisher=Luzerne County |access-date=June 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111220601/http://www.luzernecounty.org/county/departments_agencies/bureau_of_elections/election-results-archive |archive-date=January 11, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The home rule charter took effect on January 2, 2012; the Luzerne County [[County commission|Board of Commissioners]] was abolished and replaced with the new form of government ([[council–manager government]]). This government consists of a [[Luzerne County Council|county council]]. The [[chairperson|council chair]], who is appointed by his or her fellow council members, is both the highest-ranking officer on the assembly and the [[head of government|head of county government]] for ceremonial purposes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.luzernecounty.org/county/row_offices/controller/home-rule-charter |title=Home Rule Charter |publisher=Luzerne County |access-date=2018-06-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204182339/http://www.luzernecounty.org/county/row_offices/controller/home-rule-charter |archive-date=February 4, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The council also appoints and works alongside a full-time [[Luzerne County Manager|manager]] (who supervises the county's day-to-day operations).

The county government is also made up of many other officials (e.g., the county controller, [[district attorney]], and [[sheriff]]).