A resident identified in the meeting as "Mister Troy" pressed Wilkes-Barre city leaders on Thursday over the proposed 2026 budget and a planned sewer fee increase, asking council to explain where additional sewer revenues would be spent and suggesting the city consider modest tax increases on businesses instead.

Troy asked officials to clarify a $30,000 line on the agenda and to provide a clearer breakdown of sewer spending, saying, "Where do the other 2 and a half million, or whatever it is, go? What is that going to be? ... We have a right to know." He also proposed shifting some of the burden to businesses, suggesting a small increase to the mercantile tax or the business privilege tax rather than increasing household fees.

An administration official who responded at the meeting defended the fee change as a measured step to address longstanding infrastructure needs. The official said some projects recently required large outlays, citing work on Cunningham Avenue and Horton Street, and described the sewer system as "over a 100 years old." The official added, "We're trying to fix it now ... We're going to fix it the right way," and invited residents to the next work session for more detail.

The transcript records specific figures discussed by speakers: the sewer fee increase was described in the meeting as roughly $50 per year (about "$4 and some cents a month" in the administration's estimate), a $30,000 epidemiology-related item listed on the agenda (later clarified as an electronic medical records purchase with state support), and recent stormwater/sewer repairs described as costing roughly $500,000–$600,000 on specific streets.

Troy also raised questions about collective bargaining agreements and salary/benefit increases, arguing those obligations were driving budget pressure. Council members and the administration said they considered multiple funding options; staff were asked to provide revenue and fee-collection figures so council can evaluate whether rate or tax changes are necessary.

The council reiterated that items are discussed in greater detail at the work session and encouraged residents to attend. The meeting record shows the administration invited the public to a Tuesday work session at 6:00 p.m. for a fuller review of the budget and supporting documents.

Next steps: council did not take a final vote on the broader budget during the meeting; the administration and council staff said the work session will include more detailed line-item discussion and data requested by residents and council members.