NANTICOKE -- It is not the kind of news anyone wants to hear just before the holiday season, but it is official: the City of Nanticoke just approved a budget for next year that includes a 21 percent increase in property taxes.
A person whose home is valued at $100,000 can expect to pay about $100 more.
"I think they are definitely high enough right now," said Nanticoke resident Sandy Gronka.
"People in Nanticoke, they can't afford that! People in Luzerne County can't afford a 21 percent tax increase," added Nanticoke Property Owner George Campis.
Campis owns a home in Nanticoke and doesn't know how he will pay the higher property tax.
"I live on a fixed income. Nobody is going to come and help me. Just tax, tax, tax," Campis added.
More than 40 people attended the council meeting when the budget was approved. City officials admit none of the residents that were there were in favor of the new budget, but say the tax increase was necessary," Campis said.
"What we are trying to do is be fiscally responsible. We just left distressed status, and we want to stay out of distressed status and unfortunately our only means of revenue is through various forms of taxes," said Nanticoke City Manager Andrew Gegaris.
Money from the property tax hike will be used in part, to pave about $3 million worth of city roads over the next two years.
The remainder of the money will go to replenish a depleted general fund.
"It's not that we did this for the sake of raising taxes we did this to make improvements to the city," Gegaris added.
The property tax increase in Nanticoke takes effect January 1.