[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6572375,"mediaKeyId","3150478-6987a64a55ea9377be73a5e7e5a463e0","parentId",3150478,"title","Residents urge transparency on countywide reassessment; commissioners outline appeal process and relief options","audioSeconds",4508,"startMs",426000,"endMs",4934000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3150478-6987a64a55ea9377be73a5e7e5a463e0&start=426&end=4934","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3150478-6987a64a55ea9377be73a5e7e5a463e0/thumbnail_426000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6572375/Lackawanna-County/Pennsylvania/Residents-urge-transparency-on-countywide-reassessment-commissioners-outline-appeal-process-and-relief-options","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6572375-972ae2460059f7dae7f14fbee8cc5ecb/orig.mp4?Expires=1774959123&Signature=TW075IlAhtYR69KGpjZhqWqhKnkOHMkEhwQNkI9yfhXdhk22oJeBc5JwWugxtNUllfCU0Y4u82xtQpXbAcL-XpiXDtQNHKsLzQwA68Xp~U9avsxCcj9bZgu~Yg0uJgV8LYRJAf9OcuHBGHPretxJpZS56FFACibQt9nS8ujXP4yrdpF4KJFFtSFAsQA4pp0ntN6TAld4vSSfmfKL7DRtRdjlmLf3WMP8y~SvfAwvoGZU-IJH756YRX38ewTeqXh6Q2AHrMxgfOsaVo3Rj28fOSFkXgFDz6Vu8rRhVl7bYx9LcfA9Gq6vgVmt062T9LzGOHqZAA3aiDImK8~dpTh49w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lackawanna County, PA","date","2025-04-29T18:53:21.767Z","article","Dozens of residents addressed the Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners on April 16 pressing for transparency and protections related to the county’s ongoing reassessment process, which participants said has produced large valuation increases and uncertainty for homeowners, seniors and small property owners.

Residents described receiving tentative reassessment notices and said they lack access to comparable valuations countywide before the informal appeal deadline. Suzanne Green of Benton Township told commissioners she had sampled properties in Thorn (Troop) and reported average increases that, when applied to a large industrial parcel, would produce an outsized assessed value. Sharon Soltisperano and others said other Pennsylvania counties provide preliminary valuation details publicly and urged Lackawanna County to do the same so taxpayers can file accurate appeals.

Commissioner Chris Chermak acknowledged residents’ fear and urged people to use the informal appeal process; he also said county staff are exploring additional safeguards for seniors and people on fixed incomes. Chermak noted the county had signed a narrow “Lackawanna County Reassessment Relief Initiative” earlier in the year and that other relief options—including real-estate tax exemptions, deferral programs and installment payment plans—exist in county tax procedures. He said county staff will investigate whether county taxes may be paid in installments in a manner similar to the city of Scranton and its school district and that he had asked staff to examine the feasibility of an installment option beginning in 2026.

Commissioner Bill Gahan said a reassessment was ordered by court action that required the county to update valuations after many years (he cited the lack of a reassessment since 1968) and described informal appeal and formal appeal procedures. He and other county officials noted Tyler Technologies is the vendor handling reassessment work and that final, public posting of all values is scheduled for next year after appeals and adjustments are resolved.

Other public comments at the meeting included requests from municipal and community representatives: Penn State Extension staff updated the board on Master Gardener and nutrition programs and encouraged residents to use extension resources; a library director asked residents to work with local libraries for help researching comparable values and assessed information. Several speakers also urged county officials to engage with state and hospital leaders after reports of hospital service reductions.

Why it matters: A countywide reassessment can materially change property tax liabilities for homeowners and businesses. Residents said sudden, large increases may force households—particularly seniors on fixed incomes—to struggle with higher taxes. County officials said formal processes exist for appeal and that staff are exploring additional protections.

What residents should know: County staff said tentative valuations were mailed to property owners and that property owners may pursue an informal appeal process before a final valuation is set. Officials said final, publicized values and tax estimates will be available next year after appeals are processed; residents who received tentative valuations were urged to follow the informal appeal process and gather documentation (photos, sales comparables) if they believe a valuation is incorrect.

Next steps: Commissioners said they will continue to pursue options for relief and will investigate installment payment options for county taxes, and they encouraged residents to contact the assessment office, Tyler Technologies’ support and county staff with questions. Several commissioners also said they will seek additional clarity by comparing other counties’ practices for posting preliminary valuation and tax estimates.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lackawanna County Board Of Commissioners 4 16 25","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple residents used public comment to press Lackawanna County commissioners for greater transparency over a countywide property reassessment and its tax impact. Commissioners described existing appeal steps, a reassessment relief initiative and potential options to ease the tax burden for vulnerable residents.","taxTitle","Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania","taxId",2940,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6572380,"Commissioners unveil Lackawanna County’s first digital budget book to increase transparency",482,815000,1297000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3150478-6987a64a55ea9377be73a5e7e5a463e0&start=815&end=1297","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3150478-6987a64a55ea9377be73a5e7e5a463e0/thumbnail_815000.jpg","/articles/6572380/Lackawanna-County/Pennsylvania/Commissioners-unveil-Lackawanna-Countys-first-digital-budget-book-to-increase-transparency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6572380-4000da65d9ba0bec1a80f3fa936d8470/orig.mp4?Expires=1774959123&Signature=Eb5Ap0B78OlbUg26Y~LkUuf-YUAy5MuMiu8ZJHQURAXjkeSgoDx2UV~S43laCMYFIrJlaEf10hppYvJt5Wh9zM3El8TM0QojMCvSE0mENCY5QYn9yYAuUCUwVP8oNzcbYfcjWsNaOcI2e5qBdsG1xnlv81nmeqNh0M51cqm5teyQrQ0n~51Y7lKzH9KW36tnCs5YY6Ok2HE615j5bWF8oCYiwasGQuD3GYb2aDCtZrMNxgOHrpNniaE4895Ge12EAf6LRMXJMacP5UiU~T8ZZFNhhpzWFKdLMCYJfJbJy3FoqisY8PZZHwQGgtnOAChMQKEAShCkN-CVuYol798Yrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lackawanna County officials unveiled the county’s first digital budget book at the April 16 commissioners meeting, describing the tool as an interactive, searchable platform that provides department-level budgets, revenue and expenditure trends and detailed budget highlights.

Commissioner Bill Gahan led the presentation and thanked communications staff, digital media staff and department finance staff for building the platform. He said the tool will make the county’s budget “a living document” by providing searchable explanations, department summaries, organizational charts and downloadable PDFs. He said the digital book will let users compare figures over time (the platform includes data back to 2021) and view department-level changes, employee counts and project descriptions.

Chief Financial Officer Dave Bolzoni described the effort as “incredibly laborious” and said the platform will be refined over time; he thanked communications staff for their work. Officials said the digital budget book is accessible from the county website under the Revenue & Finance department and that a top-of-page ticker will link to the resource. Commissioner Gahan noted the tool’s potential to help current and future elected officials, staff and residents better analyze how public dollars are spent.

Why it matters: County officials said the county faces continuing fiscal challenges and that the new tool aims to increase transparency, reduce confusion around budget numbers and provide context for revenue and expenditure changes. The presentation included examples such as department-specific revenue/expenditure graphs and an organizational chart for the Office of Youth & Family Services.

Next steps: The county will continue to refine the digital budget book and plans to update it as budgets and data evolve. Officials encouraged residents to contact the CFO or the Revenue & Finance department with questions.

","County commissioners demonstrated a new interactive digital budget book intended to make departmental budgets, revenue and historic trends easier for residents and officials to access and understand.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6572385,"Votes at a glance: Lackawanna County commissioners approve payables, transit match, grants and cooperative agreements",466,1952000,2418000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3150478-6987a64a55ea9377be73a5e7e5a463e0&start=1952&end=2418","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3150478-6987a64a55ea9377be73a5e7e5a463e0/thumbnail_1952000.jpg","/articles/6572385/Lackawanna-County/Pennsylvania/Votes-at-a-glance-Lackawanna-County-commissioners-approve-payables-transit-match-grants-and-cooperative-agreements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6572385-7916ee23476637cda220c9e9cfc74b12/orig.mp4?Expires=1774959123&Signature=ek5bFR7cQQW2M8B7FAOHtaIxRJPYQsbb6-ZofcJ7LzQOa09yskykkTl70O3cvXWsw6lnfMFuL7GMDnIkNKDpz6uXP~SjxtIACj0PrM1R5UURbi380YWULsPwUuYemrGeS0hRxK5ggs4De9-QT7Apj~t~m87SjjoAtgnGEg2Mk5tzie2yJiR5l7sov8RHGA1TjaD5QXf0PxiCQ5hXIdoBlkttGJU0x9KA8znHPNutBTKWZKEpvOjZL1hEG~C6zwGblCk0e-Lc2BKISn5yGYmsykRYcSgaAt6UeOE1pIKJNkJwVUZrVpEIGWaQUPbSKFzLzQfxONKRTGa5wUfQ7ngvTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lackawanna County commissioners approved a series of resolutions and cooperative agreements at their April 16 meeting, including routine payables, mandated transit matching funds, community development construction agreements, arts and culture grants and a workforce board appointment.

Key outcomes

- Accounts payable and electronic fund transfers: The board approved general fund payables (check numbers 38398084703 inclusive) totaling $3,202,775.04 and county electronic fund transfers, including payroll, totaling $6,544,784.76.

- COLTS local match: Commissioners certified local matching funds of $1,017,238 for the County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS) to access state funds for FY2025–26, with the county committing to provide the local match by the end of the state fiscal year (June 30, 2026).

- McDade Park disc golf course: The board entered a cooperative agreement with the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority to accept grant funding for a heritage-themed disc golf course at McDade Park. Director of Parks and Recreation Paul Bechtel said the grant being accepted at the meeting was for $4,310 and noted an earlier $5,000 mini-grant and an in-kind donation (10 pallets of pavers) to be used for tee boxes. County leaders said the course will be located in wooded sections to limit conflicts with other park users and will be the county’s first disc golf course.

- Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) cooperative agreements: The board approved CDBG-funded cooperative agreements with municipalities for public works projects at no cost to the county. Notable awards read into the record included Chestnut Street stormwater, sidewalk and roadway reconstruction (Borough of Dunmore) with a construction agreement to Stiferski Paving Company for $445,235.50; Troop/Memorial Drive drainage repairs awarded to American Asphalt for $77,649; and Scott Township senior center kitchen and air conditioning renovations awarded to Shawnburn Construction Company for $116,000. County staff said these approvals are time-sensitive to meet project deadlines (September 2025).

- Arts and cultural grants and community events: The Arts & Culture director presented awards under the 2025 Arts and Cultural Grants program: two public-art grants of $7,500 each (Eric Bussard mural on Lackawanna Avenue in Scranton; a \"No Man Left Behind\" sculpture for Archbald Borough Veterans Monument Park). The board also approved event sponsorships: $10,000 for the Lackawanna County Heritage Fair and $5,000 for the Carbondale/CarbonDale (UFO-themed) festival.

- Workforce Development Board appointment: The board reappointed Katie Patelli, Ed.D., president and CEO of Johnson College, to the Workforce Development Board for a term from May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2028.

All resolutions were approved by voice vote; the transcript records no roll-call tallies for these votes.

Context and next steps

County officials noted CDBG awards are funded by federal Community Development Block Grant dollars and thus do not use county general fund revenue. The COLTS local match ensures the transit system can continue to receive state operating assistance. Parks and arts approvals are intended to expand recreational and cultural offerings in county parks and downtown areas; county staff said projects will proceed under the terms of the respective grants and cooperative agreements.

","At its April 16 meeting the board approved payment of accounts, a required transit local match, cooperative agreements with municipalities for CDBG-funded projects, park and arts grants, and a workforce board appointment. All listed items were approved by voice vote.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6572389,"Lackawanna County approves parameters to issue up to $35 million in bonds to fund roads, bridges and capital projects",619,1326000,1945000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3150478-6987a64a55ea9377be73a5e7e5a463e0&start=1326&end=1945","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3150478-6987a64a55ea9377be73a5e7e5a463e0/thumbnail_1326000.jpg","/articles/6572389/Lackawanna-County/Pennsylvania/Lackawanna-County-approves-parameters-to-issue-up-to-35-million-in-bonds-to-fund-roads-bridges-and-capital-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6572389-2ee1579e5bf6ab325eab5f52db0f2ca8/orig.mp4?Expires=1774959123&Signature=gNSD0ngX2Fed6LMvjL4Q6r~JqiAYVg4k-~j3IqMMejiH5EiQzBH6XHQsMGeFjMbFRzlXT0uSwsc5YuaQ5uhu7neo47NgwHJkjEbaQQzY80VRw8gIwaJ29tos9l~5YlPgrhrqmwg~p7EhhB37GxeLBA0DzrDemlNTZcCJPtNU05SQhcJAzow6VBxzPp3299HGzwka~145UVVX-d9yW85LdNxte9Q68gqbl3kQv07~2c1DzCnfDzqlO4nkQUIvNdXAtEjj0fWx7LeY4ktkq2wXTpROhcNL2yPgTWKB6yfMZtOgGV3UG-eF~UQej4sHedgLO9BiZOPovZobQKm5vcbDTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lackawanna County commissioners voted April 16 to approve an ordinance authorizing the issuance of up to $35 million in general obligation bonds to refinance short-term borrowing, reduce the interest rate on earlier financing and provide short-term funding for additional capital projects including roads and bridges.

County Chief Financial Officer Dave Bolzoni told commissioners the ordinance covers three components: (1) refunding an interim note of about $11.9 million issued in December 2023 that funded phase 1 of the capital program; (2) a rate modification to a $14,225,000 note from December 2023, lowering its rate from about 5.3976% to roughly 4.75%; and (3) a short-term borrowing of approximately $17,000,000 to fund phase 2 work, primarily roads and bridges. Bolzoni said the short-term piece will mature in two years and could be reduced if additional outside funding is secured.

Brian (county solicitor) and Bolzoni explained the ordinance is written with flexibility required by the Commonwealth's Local Government Unit Debt Act: the $35 million parameter gives room for pricing and minor adjustments when underwriters finalize terms. The county intends to accept a proposal from Raymond James & Associates Inc., working with NW Financial Group LLC, to serve as the purchaser/representative for the bonds.

Commissioners discussed the structure and nomenclature of the financing. Commissioners clarified that the $11.9 million refunding will be issued as bonds (longer maturity than the interim note), while the roughly $17 million component will be a bank loan structured as a short-term bond-equivalent with a two-year maturity and repayable earlier if funds become available. Solicitor Brian described this as “nomenclature” required by state rules: some debt that functions as a bank loan is nevertheless structured and approved as a bond for state reporting.

Commissioner Chris Chermak emphasized the urgency of addressing the county’s roads and bridges, saying deferred maintenance raises safety and cost risks. The ordinance was approved on a voice vote; the board chair declared \"the ayes have it.\" The transcript does not record a roll-call tally.

Why it matters: County officials said phase 2 includes numerous road and bridge projects, some involving bridges already closed for safety reasons. The county’s financing choices are intended to reduce near-term debt service costs, lock in lower rates on earlier borrowing, and provide a short-term mechanism to begin additional capital work while staff pursue other funding sources.

Details recorded in the ordinance and discussion: the ordinance authorizes issuance of one or more series of general obligation bonds designated as County of Lackawanna, Pennsylvania General Obligation Bond Series of 2025, not to exceed an aggregate principal amount of $35,000,000. The ordinance permits bonds to be structured as publicly offered bonds or as bank loans where appropriate, and authorizes county officers to contract with a paying agent and take all necessary steps to complete the financings.

Next steps and limits: County staff said they will finalize pricing and send the actual issue details to the state after sale. The short-term note for phase 2 is expected to mature in two years; staff said additional state or federal funds could reduce the amount that ultimately must be refinanced then.

Action: The board approved the ordinance; no further committee action was recorded in the transcript.

","The Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance authorizing up to $35 million in general obligation bonds to refinance prior short-term notes, reduce interest on existing debt and fund phase 2 capital projects including roads and bridges. County finance staff described a three-part plan and commissioners approved the ordinance on voice vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge transparency on countywide reassessment; commissioners outline appeal process and relief options

Commissioners unveil Lackawanna County’s first digital budget book to increase transparency

Votes at a glance: Lackawanna County commissioners approve payables, transit match, grants and cooperative agreements

Lackawanna County approves parameters to issue up to $35 million in bonds to fund roads, bridges and capital projects