SCRANTON — Lackawanna County commissioners congratulated Wednesday Democratic commissioner-elect Thom Welby, the winner of Tuesday’s special election to fill former Democratic Commissioner Matt McGloin’s unexpired term.
They also authorized an up to $5 million line of credit the county could draw down if the state budget impasse persists and continues to delay receipt of human services funding.
Welby, a Scrantonian and former Democratic state representative, defeated Republican Chet Merli of Blakely and independent candidate Michael Cappellini of Jessup to win the commissioner special election. He’ll replace recently appointed Democratic Commissioner Brenda Sacco when the election results are certified later this month and serve into early January 2028, when McGloin’s term expires.
Sacco joined Commissioners Bill Gaughan and Chris Chermak in congratulating Welby at Wednesday’s commissioners meeting. She had previously expressed hope that she, not the special election winner, would hold the seat for the remainder of McGloin’s term.
“I would also like to thank all those who stepped up to run for a position in yesterday’s election and to congratulate those who were victorious, and especially my dear friend Thom Welby,” Sacco said. “I would also like to thank county staff and poll workers for all their hard work in supporting the election process.”
Lackawanna County Commissioner Brenda Sacco listens to public remarks during the final budget hearing held at the county government center in Scranton Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Gaughan, a major advocate for the special election, lauded Welby despite having endorsed Cappellini in the race.
“Thom has a long record of public service and a deep understanding of the needs of the people of Lackawanna County,” he said. “I … respect and have always respected his dedication to our community, and I look forward to working with him in a professional and collaborative way to move our county forward. From the very beginning of this entire process I fought hard to make sure the people, not the politicians, had a voice and a vote.”
Gaughan voted with county Judge Terrence R. Nealon in late August to declare the special election. At the time he and Chermak, who abstained from the special election vote, were serving alongside Nealon as members of the county Board of Elections.
Nealon and county Judges Margaret Bisignani Moyle and Frank Ruggiero currently make up the election board tasked with certifying Tuesday’s results. The judges replaced the commissioners in that capacity because the office of commissioner was on Tuesday’s ballot.
“I’d also like to congratulate all the winners in the election yesterday,” Chermak said Wednesday. “I know it’s been a long-awaited election, especially in the commissioner’s seat, so (I) look forward to … moving forward when Mr. Welby gets here.”
Wednesday’s meeting and a brief county budget hearing that followed in the afternoon lacked any visible acrimony among the commissioners. It was of stark contrast to recent sessions in that regard, particularly an Oct. 27 reorganization meeting where Sacco and Chermak replaced Gaughan as board chairman, making Sacco chair, and a highly contentious Oct. 29 budget hearing where Sacco and Gaughan sparred bitterly over a number of issues.
Line of credit
In terms of county business, Sacco, Gaughan and Chermak voted unanimously to authorize the up to $5 million line of credit from Fidelity Bank. The proceeds will be advanced as needed with the county incurring interest costs on the money it ultimately uses, attorney Brian Koscelansky told commissioners.
“We’re hoping not to have to use it, but given the circumstances … we thought the additional precaution would be helpful,” county Chief Financial Officer David Bulzoni said after Wednesday’s meeting. “We would be hopeful that the state will reimburse us for that interest cost.”
The move comes more than four months into the state budget impasse that continues to hold up vital funding for counties, public school districts and other entities, with state lawmakers unable thus far to reach a compromise on a budget for Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 fiscal year.
PFM Group Consulting LLC, the county’s grant-supported financial consultant, shared early last month a pair of cash-position projections, one showing the county ending 2025 with a $3.6 million general fund cash balance and another showing a $2.6 million year-end cash deficit. The difference reflects uncertainty stemming from the impasse, officials said at the time.
They also noted in October that a $5 million state payment county officials anticipated in September can’t be released until a state budget is adopted. Human services revenue, which comes primarily from the federal and state governments, accounts for roughly 16.7% of the county’s total 2025 general fund budget, officials said.
Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed in February a $51.5 billion budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year that began July 1, touting its proposed investments in public education, transit, economic and workforce development and other areas. Republican lawmakers skeptical of the proposal’s revenue projections and critical of its increased spending levels blasted Shapiro’s budget plan as unrealistic.
The budget stalemate has persisted amid an inability by the state House and Senate to agree on a spending plan. Gaughan faulted Wednesday state Senate Republicans for failing to adopt budget proposals passed by the state House.
Commissioners also authorized Wednesday an up to $15 million 2026 tax-anticipation note, a short-term loan that will deliver revenue early next year to sustain government operations pending receipt of 2026 tax revenues. Unlike the line of credit, it’s standard practice for the county to take an annual TAN.