Scranton

Governor Tom Wolf's 2025-2026 executive budget proposal, submitted February 4, 2025, builds on previous bipartisan investments in education, public safety, and economic development. The budget continues scheduled K-12 education funding, increases support for pre-K and early intervention programs, invests in school infrastructure and mental health services, and advances the state's economic development strategy with focus on innovation sectors including agriculture. The proposal also includes funding for higher education institutions, workforce development programs, and aims to create safer communities while maintaining property tax relief for seniors.

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This document is the City of Scranton, Pennsylvania's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022, prepared by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP. The comprehensive report includes basic financial statements covering governmental and proprietary funds, management's discussion and analysis, and supplementary information on pension and other post-employment benefit (OPEB) liabilities across the city's police, fire, and nonuniformed employee plans. The document also contains required disclosures regarding federal award expenditures, internal control assessments, and audit findings and corrective actions.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services submitted its 2023-2024 Governor's Executive Budget for Appropriations Committee hearings in April 2023. The document outlines the department's mission to provide equitable, trauma-informed services to Pennsylvanians while serving as a steward of state resources. The budget encompasses multiple program areas including general government operations, institutional services (youth development, mental health, and intellectual disabilities), and grants and subsidies (cash assistance, supplemental grants, and medical assistance programs).

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The City of Scranton submitted its 2024 Operating Budget on November 6, 2023, under Mayor Paige G. Cognetti and Business Administrator Eileen Cipriani, which includes estimated revenues from taxes and fees alongside detailed departmental expenditures that do not exceed projected income. The budget narrative highlights ongoing economic challenges including interest rate volatility, rising housing costs, and workforce pressures, while noting that Scranton has achieved budget surpluses in 2020–2022 and is tracking well in 2023 through careful expenditure management and healthcare cost reductions. The city is incrementally raising employee salaries to improve competitiveness with comparable Pennsylvania municipalities, and has issued a $4,070,000 General Obligation Note in 2023 for capital expenditures while minimizing increases to 2024 debt service; the city has also adopted Investment, Fund Balance, and Debt Management policies and created an Other Post Employment Benefits Trust to manage long-term liabilities.

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The City of Scranton's 2023 General Operating Budget document presents amendments to the original budget proposal, filed as Council File #33, 2022. The amendments include revenue adjustments totaling approximately $47,863 (primarily from increased delinquent refuse collections and ARPA transfers) and expenditure reductions of approximately $240,582, with significant salary adjustments across multiple departments including Police, Fire, Business Administration, and Treasury. The budget amendments reflect a combination of revenue and spending modifications affecting core city operations and administrative functions.

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A compliance audit of the City of Scranton Aggregate Pension Fund for January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023 was conducted by the Auditor General pursuant to the Municipal Pension Plan Funding Standard and Recovery Act to ensure the fund was administered in compliance with applicable state laws, regulations, contracts, and local policies. The audit examined whether state aid was properly deposited, employer contributions were calculated and deposited in accordance with governing documents and applicable laws, and employee contributions were correctly calculated and deducted. The audit methodology included verification of state aid deposits, review of the municipality's calculation of annual financial requirements and minimum municipal obligations, and testing of employee contribution rates based on governing documents in effect during the audit period.

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The City of Scranton submitted its 2025 Operating Budget on October 30, 2024, with estimated expenditures not exceeding estimated revenue, as required by the Home Rule Charter. The budget narrative highlights the city's fiscal management during challenging economic conditions, noting budget surpluses in 2020–2023 and successful debt management, including a 2024 General Obligation Notes refunding that generated $2.195 million in net debt service savings. In March 2024, Standard & Poor's upgraded Scranton's bond rating from BBB- to BBB+ with a positive outlook, reflecting the city's improved financial health despite ongoing pressures including workforce retention challenges and the need to maintain competitive employee salaries.

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