SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Lackawanna County released a preliminary budget for 2025 on Tuesday, and it includes a hefty tax increase.
At $167,000,000, the proposed budget from Commissioners Bill Gaughan and Matt McGloin aims to tackle a nearly $29,000,000 deficit by raising property taxes, cutting healthcare costs, and eliminating 90 vacant jobs.
It also puts a freeze on wage increases for county employees.
A nearly 33% tax hike means the average homeowner would pay around $245 more in property taxes each year. It would be the country's first major tax increase since 2012.
"It was the only decision, I mean, when you look at our budget, anyone with a brain can see that we need revenue, and unfortunately, in county government, taxes are one of the only ways you can increase revenue," Gaughan explained.
The budget proposed several different ways to cut costs, such as cutting 90 vacant jobs across 19 departments, saving $2,900,000, and a freeze in a wage increase for nearly 350 non-union employees.
"In recent years, employees in those positions have received automatic 2.5% increases, that wage freeze will save about $400,000," McGloin said.
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Along with increasing the cost of healthcare plans.
"We have the richest healthcare plan in county government, really in the state of Pennsylvania, one of the richest. We have to go to our employees and ask them to pay more," Gaughan stated.
The tough budget still includes investments in county projects, such as the finishing North Pocono Trail, upgrades to the PNC field, and the Safe Streets initiative.
The proposed budget also shows no carryover of unpaid bills going into the 2025 year.
"This not only constitutes honest budgeting but ensures that companies and vendors that do business with the county are paid on time," Gaughan added.
Minority Commissioner Chermak was not included in Tuesday's budget, one he says he is not voting for.
"This is the county's budget. I represent a lot of taxpayers in this county, not just Republicans. You know, I'm fighting for everybody here, I've been in business, I know what it's like to struggle, I know what it's like to make cuts, we have to try, and just were not doing it," Chermak said.
Chermak says he and his team will release another version of the county budget as soon as possible.
"The county has a spending problem, there's no other way to explain it, and no I'm not for a tax increase. I'm not gonna just squander their hard-earned tax dollars, and I'm going to watch every penny," Chermak continued.
There will be four more meetings over the course of the month about the 2025 budget where residents of Lackawanna are welcome to come and give their opinion on the budget.
We will release those dates when they become available.
