Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lackawanna County official says recent cuts shrank deficit; preliminary 2026 budget aims to close $5 million gap without a tax increase
Summary
A Lackawanna County official told county leaders that last year’s spending cuts and revenue measures have reduced the county’s deficit by “tens of millions” and stabilized cash flow, and said a preliminary 2026 budget to be presented next week is intended to close an approximately $5 million shortfall without raising taxes.
A Lackawanna County official said the county’s recent fiscal actions have significantly reduced its deficit and stabilized cash flow, and that a preliminary 2026 budget to be presented next week is intended to close an estimated $5,000,000 shortfall without a tax increase.
The official thanked consulting firm PFM, the Department of Community and Economic Development and the county chief financial officer for their work and candor, saying “the tough, unpopular decisions that were made last year were not only necessary, but they are working.” The speaker said the county had been in a financial crisis a year earlier and was borrowing to meet payroll.
The official summarized the steps taken: raising revenue, reducing spending where possible, and paying down debt. “We were relying on one-time fixes to solve long term problems, but we chose a different path,” the official said. The speaker added that reductions included eliminating “an entire department, the health department, 90 positions,” and changes to health-care benefits among other measures.
According to the official, those choices have reduced the county’s deficit “by tens of millions of dollars,” helped stabilize cash flow and enabled progress on pensions and payroll. The official said preliminary projections “are showing about a $5,000,000 deficit for 02/1926,” and that the official and Commissioner Chermack have been working together on the issue.
The official committed that, when the preliminary 2026 budget is presented next Wednesday, it will “close that deficit and does not include a tax increase.” The official framed the approach as prioritizing long-term fiscal responsibility: “Leadership isn't always about doing what's easy. It's about doing what's right, even when it may cost you politically.”
No formal vote or ordinance was recorded in the remarks. The official’s comments were a status update and preview of the preliminary budget; additional materials, formal proposals, and any votes would be required for implementation.
The county official repeatedly thanked county staff and residents for their patience and said the county now has “a foundation for stability, growth and accountability,” while acknowledging that “there are still many challenges ahead.”
