Scranton to extend property tax, trash fee discount period
Jan. 17—SCRANTON — The city plans to permanently extend property tax and trash fee discount periods by a month, to April 15.
The change, planned in conjunction with Lackawanna County and the Scranton School District, will give taxpayers more time to take advantage of the city's 2% tax and 10% refuse fee discounts if they pay by the new, mid-April deadline.
City council introduced an ordinance Tuesday that extends the deadlines and amends the city code to reflect the change, which "may defer some revenue cash flow from March to April," but isn't expected to have a major budgetary impact, according to a legislative cover sheet.
Scranton property owners receive one bill that includes their city, school district and county real estate tax obligations, as well as their city trash fee. All three taxing bodies offer the same 2% property tax discount if paid by the deadline.
Lackawanna County commissioners voted unanimously earlier this month to set April 15 as the discount deadline for county property taxes. The school district also intends to extend its deadline to April 15 and is preparing information for the school board on the matter, Business Manager Patrick Laffey confirmed.
If April 15 falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the discount deadline is the next business day. It falls on a Saturday this year, so taxpayers would have until Monday, April 17, to pay the discounted rates.
Also Tuesday, council introduced legislation authorizing a federally funded contract with Harrisburg-based Herbert, Rowland & Grubic Inc. to help establish a regional authority for stormwater management.
Managing stormwater on a regional basis has been a goal years in the making for the city, which has taken the lead in advancing the regional concept and last year issued a request for qualifications seeking a consultant to support its implementation. HRG, the firm Scranton previously hired to explore the feasibility of a regional collaboration, submitted the lone response to the RFQ.
In October, HRG proposed an eight-member regional startup stormwater authority consisting of the city, South Abington Twp. and the boroughs of Clarks Summit, Dickson City, Dunmore, Moosic, Old Forge and Taylor. Participation among those potential partners isn't guaranteed; it's also possible the number of participants could ultimately increase.
The eight municipalities currently must maintain Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) permits and are subject to pollution-reduction requirements imposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Officials from several of the above-mentioned municipalities said late last year they'd be interested in exploring a regional partnership. Proponents of regionalization contend it will help participants better manage stormwater and meet the federal requirements at less cost.
HRG originally explored the feasibility of establishing an authority at the county level, but later said the county's potential timeline did not match the needs of the municipalities.
Among many other duties, HRG would facilitate meetings with and develop an intergovernmental cooperation agreement for participating municipalities. It would also assist in developing proposed stormwater management fees for property owners covered by an authority.
Scranton will use up to $450,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to cover the cost of the HRG contract, which runs through 2024.
Contact the writer: jhorvath@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9141; @jhorvathTT on Twitter.
