By John Williams yardley@buckslocalnews.com

LOWER MAKEFIELD Commissioner Rob Loughery is taking time to visit all of Bucks Countys 54 municipalities in a personal appeal to highlight county priorities.

Commissioner Loughery, who was voted into office in November after first being appointed as commissioner following the election of Jim Cawley as lieutenant governor, visited the Lower Makefield Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, June 6.

He told the board that the county is focused on boosting revenue and cutting expenses as it pertains to the budget. He called last years modest tax increase a result of a $24 million deficit at the time.

He said the construction of the new justice center is still the largest capital project the county is currently undertaking. Bock & Sons, a construction firm based in Northeast Philadelphia, won an $80 million bid in January 2011 to build the center.

This past November, the commissioners voted 2-1 to borrow $85 million over a period of 15 years to fund the construction of the center.

However, Loughery did admit that the construction of the center has fallen behind schedule, but not by much. He told the board he wasnt too concerned about the progress already made.

The facility plans to open in February 2014.

Moreover, the county is working with 200 fewer employees. At the beginning of the year, the county started with 2,600 employees. Now, there are roughly 2,400.

Loughery said that even though the county is working with fewer parts, it will give the commissioners a good opportunity to analyze how to properly deliver county government. He said the process is two-fold: Cutting the size of government and meeting budgets through attrition.

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Commissioner Loughery visits Lower Makefield supervisors meeting, discusses county priorities