ANNE REINER/Sun-Gazette Lycoming County Commissioner Tony Mussare speaks to the Williamsport Rotary Club at the Genetti Hotel on Monday afternoon.

Reducing a Lycoming County deficit of nearly $9 million will be a key issue for the coming year, according to county commissioners.

“We know that the $9 million deficit is kind of sitting on our shoulders,” Commissioner Jack McKernan said.

The three county leaders spoke to the Williamsport Rotary Club on Monday afternoon, outlining upcoming plans for the next year and pledging to work together to fix the budget shortfall.

“The three of us are committed to spending the next three years trying to reduce the deficit,” Commissioner Rick Mirabito said.

The county’s tightening fiscal belt could have an effect on upcoming issues such as a possible property tax reassessment in the next year, reducing some of the county’s excess building space, continuing to reduce prison costs and the upcoming cost to repair and improve the Williamsport levee.

All important and necessary expenses, the commissioners agree, but Mirabito cautioned that the county’s money is not limitless, and these and other projects cannot all be funded.

“We have to recognize that we can’t have it all,” he said.

With the onset of state budget talks, and Gov. Tom Wolf set to give his 2017-18 budget address today, the commissioners hope to continue to receive additional funding for human services programs and combatting the opioid epidemic.

“Everyone, whether they use these services directly or not, sees the effects of these issues on their income, their families and their well-being,” Commissioner Tony Mussare said. “Our capacity to meet service needs dictates the type of society in which our children and grandchildren will live, and we call on our state government partners to provide their share of support to address our joint responsibilities.”

Mussare commended the work of county employees over the past year, both for working to bring in more residents to the county, as well as being prepared for the Oct. 21 flash flooding that caught the area by surprise.

“It was amazing how prepared we were for this disaster,” Mussare said.

Mussare acknowledged that there would be challenges ahead but said he was proud to be in a county that could handle them.

“These people are dedicated in what they do for Lycoming County,” he said.