This is certainly news we do not read about often! Scranton City Council unanimously adopted a $74.9 million dollar budget that features a 10.55% property tax decrease AND a 25% decrease in mercantile and business privilege taxes. The budget restores 44 of 69 positions which had previously been recommended to be cut.
Mayor Chris Doherty submitted a $75.5 million dollar budget to council in November which included 69 jobs being eliminated. Mayor Doherty has until December 24th to act of council’s $74.9 million dollar budget. Council has a veto-proof majority so any attempt to veto the budget by Mayor Doherty would be symbolic.
Scranton, PA Pottstown, PA
Population – 71,944 2009 estimate Population – 21,421 2009 estimate
Land area – 25.2 square miles Land area – 4.83 square miles
2011 Budget – $74.9 million dollars 2011 Budget – $39.3 million dollars
Police – 150 officers Police – 47 officers
Est. 2008 median income – $32,794 Est. 2008 median income – $45,941
Est. 2008 per capita income – $19,034 Est. 2008 per capita income – $24,044
City-data crime index 2009 – 306.7 City-data crime index 2009 – 454.7
After carefully reflecting on the above figures some questions may develop.
How does a city 3 1/2 times our size (population) and 5 times our size in land area have a lower crime rate with less police per 1000 people?
How does a city 3 1/2 times our size have a budget less than twice as big?
How does a less affluent city in terms of median and per capita income reduce property taxes 10.55% and reduce business taxes 25%?
Any thoughts?????
Demographic information from City-data.com
Roy's Rants - For Your Information 
hmmm let’s see:
1. they have a competent, pro-active police chief – less crime
2. the local gov’t is more conscientious and careful with taxpayers money and they communicate with their community
3. ditto
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner! Ding, ding, ding!
ding ding to you Roy!! Our champion of excellent news and insight. A Merry Merry Christmas to you and yours!!
And a Merry Christmas to you Olive! Thanks for your support!
Hi Roy, congrats to Olive, I’m a little late with this post, but I wanted to chime in and say, what I find REALLY interesting about this comparison is that Scranton has more than 3 times the population of Pottstown and has an area more than 6 times the size of Pottstown yet their budget is less than TWICE that of Pottstown’s budget!!! Hmmmm….very interesting.
Thanks Andrew. It certainly made me scratch my head and wonder!