City government · Lackawanna County, PA

Scranton's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Scranton took in $103 million and spent $87.0 million.

Latest recorded year: ended December 31, 2023Comes fromGoes to

See every government that serves your ZIP

Where it comes from

City taxes81%Fees for services (garbage collection, road charges)7.8%State tax money7.2%County and local tax money2.3%Fines and other1.2%

What stands out

35%

of Scranton's money comes from a personal income tax.Most U.S. cities of 50,000+ people get none.

City taxes81%

Individual income tax
35%$35.6 million
Property tax
34%$34.5 million
Other taxes
13%$13.5 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; real estate and stock transfer taxes and 2 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$8.3 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$4.0 million
  • Public utility licenses$949 thousand
  • Amusement taxes$259 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services7.8%

Fees for services
7.8%$8.0 million
What's in fees for servicesGarbage collection; other service charges and 2 more
  • Garbage collection$7.4 million
  • Other service charges$471 thousand
  • Road charges$94 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$40 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money7.2%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state
7.2%$7.4 million

County and local tax money2.3%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
2.3%$2.4 million

Fines and other1.2%

Interest, rents and other
0.9%$924 thousand
Fines
0.3%$303 thousand

Where it goes

Police, fire, courts and jails67%Running the government and other costs17%Parks, recreation and libraries6.1%Water, sewer, trash and utilities5.4%Interest on debt3.3%Roads, transit and parking0.9%

What stands out

67%

of Scranton's spending goes to police, fire, courts and jails.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 25%.

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
67%$58.4 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsFire protection; police and 1 more
  • Fire protection$29.5 million
  • Police$28.3 million
  • Courts and legal services$625 thousand
Running the government and other costs
17%$14.9 million
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; other and not broken out and 2 more
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$7.5 million
  • Other and not broken out$5.0 million
  • Government buildings$1.5 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$932 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
6.1%$5.3 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries and parks and recreation
  • Libraries$3.7 million
  • Parks and recreation$1.7 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
5.4%$4.7 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$4.7 million
Interest on debt
3.3%$2.8 million
Roads, transit and parking
0.9%$805 thousand
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and parking
  • Roads and highways$771 thousand
  • Parking$34 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Scranton. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

What this covers. The money of City of Scranton itself. Other governments that serve the same area (the city, county, school district and state) are separate and not included. Borrowing, transfers between a government's own funds, and pension trust funds are not counted as revenue.