Lackawanna County 2027 Preliminary Budget 10 15 26

Lackawanna County’s preliminary 2027 budget presentation and discussion, held October 22, 2026, outlined a proposed $190 million operating budget with no real estate tax millage increase and a current preliminary deficit of about $3.97 million, reduced from an initial $8.95 million through departmental adjustments and non-recurring revenues. The CFO cited a total tax rate of 5.79 mills, rising operating expenses—especially healthcare and pension costs—and limited revenue growth. The discussion also covered a projected debt refunding of about $18.9–$20 million, a planned lease transaction in the debt-service budget, and the use of a lease transaction to replace county IT hardware on a regular schedule.

The CFO described planned or ongoing investments in county facilities, roads and bridges, the prison, a community correction center, and participation in a regional juvenile detention center. No specific contract awards, bids, vendor selections, or procurement motions were reported. Commissioners discussed ways to close the deficit without a tax increase, requested further budget details, and said three public hearings would be scheduled; no budget approval vote was recorded.