You don't want to be using local here; you should use my to declare your variables instead.

my creates a lexically scoped variable - one that is only visible in the block in which it was declared.

local creates a temporary local copy of a global variable, and this copy is visible to subroutines you call inside your block (when you use my, the variable is -not- visible to called subs).

Generally, you want to use my rather than local.

See also:

• Coping with Scoping by MJD
• Seven Useful Uses of local by MJD
• my and local??