Luzerne County Council is weighing a proposal to add a 15 dollar fee to deeds and mortgages recorded in the county to create a dedicated blight demolition fund. The potential ordinance was discussed during this week’s work session, setting the stage for a possible formal introduction at the May 12 council meeting.
If the ordinance is introduced, it would require four of the 11 council members to move forward to a subsequent public hearing and a final majority vote. The revenue from the fee would be used exclusively to fund the demolition of dilapidated and hazardous structures throughout the county, a task that currently relies on limited community development grants.
A similar funding mechanism was suggested in 2017 but failed to gain traction. At that time, several council members expressed concern that the additional cost would place an unfair burden on residents buying or refinancing homes.
Proponents of the new measure argue that the fee is a small price to pay to help revitalize neighborhoods and protect property values from the negative impact of long-term blight. If passed, Luzerne would join several other Pennsylvania counties that have already implemented similar recording fees under state law to tackle abandoned properties.
