Scranton holds public hearing on proposed 2026 capital budget; resident raises questions on homeless services, training and project timing

The City of Scranton held a public hearing to receive testimony on Council File No. 912025, the proposed 2026 capital budget and capital reserve fund spending plan submitted pursuant to Section 904 of the city's home rule charter and Council File No. 11 of 02/2024.

At the hearing, Scranton resident Norman Jeffries said he had reviewed the capital budget and asked several questions about where certain programs and projects appear in city spending documents. "I did get a copy of the budget for 2026 ... it's a lot of reading," Jeffries said. He said a word search for terms including "unhoused," "homeless" and "code blue" returned no results in the capital budget.

City staff explained the difference between the capital budget and the operating (standard) budget, saying the capital document covers major improvements — examples cited included pools, skate parks and fire apparatus — while ongoing programs and services, including vouchers or operational support for homeless services, are budgeted in the operating budget. The staff member answering Jeffries' questions said those operating items would appear in the general operating budget rather than the capital budget.

Jeffries also asked about training for public safety personnel. He said he had observed training at the Sorenti Center and asked why some trainees are sent to Allentown or Harrisburg for training. A city staff member replied that larger, mandated trainings are often hosted at Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) and similar regional facilities and that the Sorenti Center is used for department‑level exercises such as burn‑house training; the staff member distinguished those local trainings from the larger, college‑hosted sessions.

The resident raised questions about project timing in the capital plan, noting several items with 2027 dates listed in the 2026 capital budget. City staff explained that multi‑year budgeting and procurement lead times can result in projects being listed across two fiscal years; examples mentioned in the discussion included two new fire engines (one expected to arrive in 2027), a West Market Street culvert replacement listed for 2026–27, a Roaring Brook flood‑channel project budgeted into 2027 and departmental facility work such as replacing floor drains and garage bay doors at the Department of Public Works. Staff said each line item in the capital budget lists a funding source for the specific project.

Council member Michael Voldenberg (addressing the Sorenti Center) asked whether litigation surrounding that facility had concluded and what administration plans were for the building. A staff member did not provide a final status during the hearing and said they would follow up with an update to the council.

No formal action on adoption of the capital budget was taken at the hearing; the session was a public hearing to receive testimony. With no further speakers, a council member moved to adjourn and the public hearing was closed.

Votes at a glance: no votes on the capital budget were recorded during the hearing; the only formal action recorded in the transcript was a motion to adjourn, which was made on the floor and the hearing was declared adjourned.