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Lackawanna County approves DCED grant application to fund salary study, retain PFM for implementation
Summary
The county board ratified a DCED strategic management planning Phase Three application (about $200,000) to fund a comprehensive salary survey of roughly 350 county positions and retain PFM Group Consulting for training and implementation. Commissioners framed the move as essential to fixing structural budget problems and improving recruitment.
The Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution authorizing the filing of an application under the Commonwealth’s Strategic Management Planning Program Phase Three to fund a comprehensive county salary survey and related implementation work. The grant, as described by county staff, is roughly $200,000 and will support a targeted salary and compensation review covering approximately 350 county positions and continued engagement with PFM Group Consulting to train finance staff and support implementation.
A commissioner explained the rationale during discussion, saying the work follows an outside review requested in 2024 and is meant to help the county address long-standing structural financial issues: “When I came into office in 2024, we did not inherit a healthy financial operation… $37 million deficit, $19 million in unpaid bills,” the commissioner said, adding that Phase Three will help build internal capacity and complete a salary study the PFM review recommended. The board voted in favor of the resolution by voice vote.
County staff said Phase Three would combine a county-specific salary survey with PFM support for training and implementation. The proposed engagement with PFM would begin August 1, 2026, and run through Dec. 31, 2027, and county materials name the consultant retention and a comprehensive salary survey as the principal elements of the work.
Commissioners framed the measure as part of a multi-year effort to restore fiscal stability and improve the county’s ability to recruit and retain staff. The resolution authorizes the chair and chief of staff to sign related documents and allocates up to 10% local matching funds if required by the grant terms.
Next steps: the board ratified the grant application and authorized staff to accept awards and sign documents; the county expects to work with PFM on the salary survey and related training if the grant is awarded.
