Scranton City Council Approves Budget with Larger Tax Hike
By: Eric Deabill
Updated: December 14, 2012
Scranton, Lackawanna County - Scranton city council approved its 2013 budget Thursday night with a 22-percent property tax hike, which is ten percent larger than originally expected.
The city council meeting wrapped up just before 10:00 PM.
Mayor Chris Doherty appeared before city council asking for council to approve the larger increase.
The budget was only slated to increase 12-percent. The additional increase is needed to cover a debt issue that was the focus of a two-day commuter tax hearing earlier this week.
Council members are hoping that the additional tax increase will increase the likelihood that a commuter tax will be given approval by a panel of three judges.
In addition to the additional tax increase, council also voted against raising the pay for six city employees.
