Pocono News Section

Lackawanna County Commissioners: No New Tax Increases

Lackawanna County Commissioners: No New Tax Increases - Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 04:10AM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Thursday April 22 2010
0/ 5 rating

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - There will be no tax increases next year for people who live in Lackawanna County. That was the message from commissioners Thursday afternoon.

The announcement came during the commissioner's annual State of The County Address. The address by Mike Washo and Corey O'Brien is a chance for the commissioner's to talk about the successes of the past and the challenges of the future.

Taxpayers say they're happy they won't have to pay more.

"We pay enough in taxes, so I don't think they should be increased," Sherry Kozlowski of Dickson City said.

The address is not only making headlines for what the commissioners said, but also what they did not say. They never brought up the ongoing corruption probe which is now affecting Lackawanna County.

Commissioners only addressed the issue with the media afterwards, when we peppered them with questions about why they didn't talk about it.

"Maybe we should have," Commissioner Mike Washo said. "That's a good point."

Current majority AJ Munchak is facing charges of extortion for allegedly taking bribes when he was in the majority.

Washo and O'Brien say they've already instituted changes to prevent similiar types of abuses.

"I don't think we have to do anything differently. I think that we demonstrated our leadership in finances and ethics before we even took office," Washo said.

But on the street, the public have a different view. Many people don't know any changes or safeguards have been put in place.

"I have no idea," Joe Geary of Scranton said when asked. When told about an ethics panel that has been formed, Geary said, "I would know nothing about that and I would be suspicious."

Even though Commissioners Washo and O'Brien have never been implicated in any wrongdoing, people in the public say the corruption probe should have been mentioned in the biggest county address of the year.

"Everybody is wondering what is going on and why they did what they did, so yeah, people do have questions and want some answers," Kozlowski said.