SCRANTON, Pa. — Homeowners in Lackawanna County are bracing for a 33% tax hike next year. The county commissioners passed the 2025 budget Wednesday morning.
The startling hike wasn’t the only thing that brought residents to Wednesday meeting.
“Everybody needs to shake hands, get along and figure it out for Lackawanna County taxpayers,” said Renee Czubowicz, of North Abington Township.
It’s been a clear divide of party lines between the Lackawanna County commissioners as the debate over the 2025 budget unfolded during the past month.
“There has to be accountability,” Czubowicz said. “It’s very easy to spend other people’s money, but when it’s your money, there’s a difference. You need to find that middle ground.”
But Wednesday morning, Democratic majority Commissioners Bill Gaughan and Matt McGloin approved a $167 million budget. That includes a roughly 33% property tax increase they’ve been talking about since their terms began in January.
“The honest answer to all of this, the honest answer to all of you, is that we have no choice,” Gaughan said.
Republican minority Commissioner Chris Chermak voted against the tax hike. This comes after he presented his own budget that raised taxes by roughly 6% — one the majority commissioners say just isn’t feasible.
“We have all been lied to for years, lied to tremendously,” McGloin said. “But this is the administration that stops all of that.”
“They can spend hours and hours and hours dissecting what I’m doing,” Chermak said. “They should spend that time figuring out where they can save money for the tax payers of Lackawanna County, and I know there’s money to be saved.”
taxpayers looked for any possibility of a compromise between commissioners and the proposed 33% increase.
“There’s got to be a middle ground,” said Amy Scandal, of Waverly Township. “There has to be a middle ground and I’m begging you. I can’t afford another cent.”
Now that the decision has been made to move forward with a budget — and the tax hike that comes with it — Newswatch 16 presented both sides with the same question: Are they willing to work together moving forward?
“I didn’t think there was that much turmoil,” Gaughan said. “The bottom line here is that we’re willing to work with anyone who is willing to tell the truth. What you heard from Commissioner Chermak was plain lies.”
As for Chermak, he said he will not “go in (on) my hands and knees” seek acceptance.
“My door’s open,” Chermak said. “I’ve been here for five years now.”