WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown presented his 2026 budget proposal on Wednesday, which includes a hike in the residential sewer fee to cover the costs of unexpected, major infrastructure repairs.
The proposal calls for doubling the residential sewer fee to $100 per year per unit. Mayor Brown justified the increase by citing substantial, unanticipated damage to the city’s utility systems that totaled more than $1.2 million. The most costly repairs were needed for the extensive damage to the Horton Street sewer and utility lines, as well as the storm water system along Conyngham Avenue.
Despite the increase in the sewer fee, the Mayor’s proposal maintains the real estate tax rate for the seventh consecutive year. Mayor Brown emphasized that keeping the property tax rate flat while addressing critical infrastructure failures was a necessary balancing act for the city's financial stability. The budget will now be reviewed by City Council.