During the first official business meeting for the new Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners, Commissioner Bill Gaughan, the new board’s chairman, said the county had less than $500,000 to meet expenses at one point toward the end of last year. Gaughan added that in a $163 million budget you can have less than a half a million dollars in the bank is frightening and unacceptable. Gaughan spoke after he and commissioners Matt McGloin and Chris Chermak voted to apply for entry into the state strategic management planning program. If the state approves, the county would seek a consultant to develop a long-term strategic management plan.