In other business, the Monroe County commissioners voted to approve $17,376,731 spent on Children & Youth Services in their 2018-19 fiscal year.

This number is expected to grow next year. Commissioners’ Chairman John Moyer said he expects the county will have to budget about $20 million next year because the state has increased regulations, including lowering the number of children that can be assigned to one caseworker.

“(This) is not easy to do because we can’t keep enough caseworkers for the old ratio, so I don’t know how the heck we’re gonna do it for the new ratio,” Moyer explained after the meeting.

The county only has to pay part of these expenses, Moyer said. It is reimbursed at 70-75% of what it spends on Children & Youth Services.

Speaking on behalf of the Downtown Stroudsburg Business Association, Stroudsburg Mayor Tarah Probst asked the commissioners to let the public use a portion of a lot at 18 N. Sixth St. for parking while it stands unused.

There is currently a framed structure on the lot that the county is planning to tear down.

Probst said this lot could temporarily help alleviate downtown Stroudsburg’s parking issues.

Moyer expressed concern that plans for the lot are still uncertain and this wouldn’t be a permanent parking solution. But the commissioners said they would consider Probst’s request.