Commissioner Bill Gahan used part of the Oct. 15 Lackawanna County budget hearing in Dunmore to criticize the recent firing of communications director Pat McKenna and to warn that the action undermines transparency around the county budget.

"He was instrumental in the unveiling last year of the digital budget book," Gahan said, describing the digital budget book as a tool that "exponentially increases the amount of budget information to the public" and noting it contains department-level narratives, charts and explanations of how county dollars are spent.

Gahan said McKenna was dismissed "without any explanation" and that the firing "sends a chilling message" about political maneuvering and the county governments commitment to open public information. He said he does not know what will happen to the digital budget book for 2026 now that McKenna is no longer employed by the county.

Other commissioners asked to keep the hearing focused on budget numbers and process rather than personnel matters. No formal personnel action or personnel rationale was provided during the hearing, and no county spokesperson offered an explanation at the meeting.

Commissioners said printed and online budget materials remain available to the public and that staff will continue to refine the tentative 2026 budget. Gahan asked that residents and reporters monitor whether the county continues to publish detailed online budget materials going forward.