Harrisburg can be sued over debt

HARRISBURG - County commissioners here have authorized a lawsuit to force the city to pay part of the debt for an incinerator overhaul that has threatened to drag the city into bankruptcy.

The action Wednesday by the Dauphin County commissioners means the trustees of a 2007 bond issue that financed upgrades to the Harrisburg incinerator can sue to force the city treasurer to pay nearly $35 million in debt due by Dec. 1.

The county has paid more than $3.4 million toward the estimated $288 million incinerator debt to avert a default and is trying to recover those payments from the city and the authority that owns the incinerator.

City officials are seeking temporary relief and the mayor has said she favors sale or lease of city assets, higher trash disposal fees for nonresidents, and debt forgiveness or restructuring.