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WILKES-BARRE \u2014 The financial condition of county governments in Northeastern Pennsylvania reflects a mix of stable revenues, rising tax collections, and varying debt levels, according to recent data from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and county financial reports.<\/p>\n
Analysis from The Institute covers Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties, providing insight into how local governments manage public resources, balance budgets, and deliver essential services.<\/p>\n
Jill Avery-Stoss, President & CEO of The Institute, said county fiscal indicators show that overall revenues increased across Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wayne Counties as of 2023, though performance varies by county.<\/p>\n
According to Avery-Stoss, in 2021, Wyoming County reported higher total expenditures than total revenue, resulting in higher expenditures per capita. Lackawanna and Wayne counties had slightly lower taxes per capita compared to the previous year, while Luzerne and Wyoming Counties reported increases.<\/p>\n
Inter-governmental revenue \u2014 funding transferred from state or federal sources through grants or shared taxes \u2014 also rose for all three of the four counties. Wyoming County\u2019s intergovernmental revenue peaked in 2018 and declined through the following three years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese funds help support targeted projects and programs, providing flexibility to local governments facing fiscal pressures,\u201d Avery-Stoss said.<\/p>\n
Debt levels remain an important measure of fiscal health, Avery-Stoss said. Lackawanna County carries the region\u2019s highest total debt, at roughly $209.5 million, followed by Luzerne County at $146 million and Wayne County at $22.2 million. Wyoming County data was not available.<\/p>\n
When adjusted for population, Avery-Stoss said Lackawanna County again leads with a debt burden of $908 per capita, compared to $510 in Luzerne County and $465 in Wayne County. She said Luzerne and Wayne counties have reduced their debt per capita over the last several years.<\/p>\n
Avery-Stoss said property taxes form the backbone of county revenue, supporting education, emergency services, and public infrastructure.<\/p>\n
\u201cTax rates in Pennsylvania are assessed in mills, though the way properties are valued differs by county, making direct comparisons difficult,\u201d said Avery-Stoss. \u201cDeclining millage rates do not always translate into lower tax bills either, because there are other elements of property tax burden to consider \u2014 such as school district taxes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Avery-Stoss said sales tax remittances have trended upward statewide, even as sales tax remittances decreased in two of the four counties analyzed. In 2023\u20132024, Luzerne County generated the highest local sales tax remittance at $109.1 million, followed by Lackawanna County at $92.3 million, Wayne County at $21.2 million, and Wyoming County at $7.1 million. Pennsylvania as a whole collected $14.2 billion, providing a steady revenue stream to fund state-level services and initiatives.<\/p>\n
Avery-Stoss said employment levels within county governments reflect both the delivery of public services and the sector\u2019s contribution to the regional economy. Over the past decade, Avery-Stoss said staffing numbers have fluctuated.<\/p>\n
In 2025, Luzerne County was the only county in the region to see a decrease in government workers, while Lackawanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties all saw small increases. Across the four-county region, most government workers (41.4%) are employed by local governments, followed by federal (32.2%) and state (26.4%) agencies.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll this information points to general fiscal stability, though not without ongoing challenges,\u201d Avery-Stoss said. \u201cRising tax collections and strong intergovernmental support have bolstered county revenues, but debt burdens and expenditure pressures are persistent. Policymakers can monitor these trends and keep them in mind when making decisions about resource allocation and public service delivery.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reach Bill O\u2019Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.<\/p>\n
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