Huge tax increase proposed for 2025 Lackawanna County budget

Lackawanna County's Democratic majority commissioners Bill Gaughan and Matt McGloin propose a nearly 33% tax hike next year. The announcement was made today when unveiling an $167 million preliminary 2025 budget. The proposed hike would increase the county's overall property tax rate from 67.67 to 89.98 mills, a mill being a $1 tax on every $1,000 of assessed property value. It would be the county's fifth and most significant increase since 2012. Republican Minority Commissioner Chris Chermak has said he will not back a tax increase. Beginning next week, discussions on the budget will be held in Moosic, Waverly, Carbondale and Scranton.