# Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners  10-21-26

The Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners meeting on October 21, 2026, considered an ordinance for up to $15 million in Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes for fiscal year 2027. The county CFO described the borrowing as short-term cash-flow financing to be repaid by December 31, 2027, and recommended accepting Essex Securities LLC’s proposal; Fidelity Deposit and Discount Bank was identified as paying agent. The estimated gross interest rate was 4.75%–5.25%, with a projected net rate near 2% after investing proceeds. Although a motion was made, the transcript indicates the item should be a first reading and does not capture a final vote. Commissioners also considered an intergovernmental agreement for a regional youth detention center with Berks, Dauphin, Lehigh, and Delaware counties; discussion cited an expected county cost of more than $2 million annually and the potential to avoid much higher costs of operating a facility independently.

The board approved a state food purchasing grant agreement providing approximately $459,000 for county food banks and services, with no county cost, and approved the 2027 Community Development Block Grant application and applications for Monroe County Local Share grants supporting listed community and county projects, also with no direct county cost to submit. It approved reallocating $5,428.20 in remaining CDBG funds from a completed senior-center renovation to Scott Township’s municipal park ADA walkway. During budget discussion, a commissioner said they had asked financial consultant PFM to review the preliminary 2027 budget, spending pressures, and 2028–2029 projections; no consulting contract or expenditure was presented. Public comments raised concerns about taxes and operating costs, including healthcare and electricity.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Grants & Funding, Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** October 21, 2026

### Sources
- [Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners  10-21-26](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REzR_ErI-z8) - ECTV