Lackawanna County residents will have opportunities in the coming weeks to provide feedback on the county’s roughly $181 million preliminary 2026 budget.
The draft budget Commissioners Bill Gaughan and Chris Chermak recently released holds taxes steady next year following a precipitous 2025 tax hike of nearly 33%. It and a presentation highlighting key elements of the preliminary spending plan are available for review at lackawannacounty.org.
Residents who want to provide input on or ask questions about the budget proposal can do so during any of the following hearings:
• Wednesday, 1 p.m., Ransom Twp. Municipal Building, 2435 Hickory Lane.
• Oct. 29, 6 p.m., Dunmore Community Center, 1414 Monroe Ave.
• Oct. 30, 2 p.m., Throop Municipal Building, 436 Sanderson St.
• Nov. 5, 1 p.m., Lackawanna County Government Center, 5th Floor Conference Room, 123 Wyoming Ave., Scranton.
The schedule complies with the county’s Home Rule Charter, which requires the county hold at least four public budget hearings by Nov. 15.
Changes to the preliminary budget are possible prior to final passage later in November. The Home Rule Charter-imposed deadline for commissioners to adopt the final 2026 budget is Dec. 1.
Prospective public hearing participants and attendees can watch the county’s recent budget presentation online via ECTV’s YouTube channel.