ZIP 18503 · Scranton, PA

Four governments run on your community's money

From the state down to your schools: where each one's money comes from and goes.

Yearly budgets from each government's latest fiscal year on record. Tap one to jump to it.

Your state

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

$122.4 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State taxes44%Federal tax money35%Fees for services (hospital bills, college tuition)14%Fines and other6.7%

What stands out

14%

of Pennsylvania's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical state government gets 10%.

Full Pennsylvania breakdown

State taxes44%

Other taxes
14%$17.3 billion
What's in other taxesMotor fuel taxes; other selective sales taxes and 17 more
  • Motor fuel taxes$3.38 billion
  • Other selective sales taxes$2.32 billion
  • Amusement taxes$2.28 billion
  • Estate and gift taxes$1.58 billion
  • Motor vehicle licenses$1.48 billion
  • Public utility taxes$1.40 billion
  • Occupation and business licenses$1.32 billion
  • Insurance premium taxes$1.02 billion
  • Tobacco taxes$960 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$697 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$473 million
  • Driver's licenses$93.9 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$91.7 million
  • Public utility licenses$86.2 million
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$66.8 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$35.3 million
  • Amusement licenses$33.5 million
  • Other licenses$21.2 million
  • Corporation licenses$3.2 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Individual income tax
14%$17.1 billion
Sales tax
12%$15.6 billion
Business income tax
3.9%$4.96 billion
Property tax
<0.1%$44.1 million

Fees for services14%

Fees for services
14%$17.8 billion
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; college tuition and 11 more
  • Hospital bills$7.08 billion
  • College tuition$4.21 billion
  • Liquor stores$2.55 billion
  • Tolls on roads and bridges$1.61 billion
  • University housing and dining$1.15 billion
  • Other service charges$592 million
  • Other education charges$205 million
  • Housing$144 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$94.8 million
  • Parks and recreation$78.7 million
  • Road charges$59.9 million
  • Sewer$3.4 million
  • Airport$44 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money35%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
35%$44.5 billion

Local tax money<0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
<0.1%$58.5 million

Fines and other6.7%

Interest, rents and other
6.5%$8.23 billion
Fines
0.2%$217 million
Pennsylvania page →

Where the money goes

Social services32%Sent to local governments25%Schools and colleges12%Health and hospitals9.2%Roads, transit and parking8.1%All other spending14%

What stands out

9.2%

of Pennsylvania's spending goes to health services and hospitals.A typical state government spends 5.7%.

Full Pennsylvania breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
32%$39.5 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; welfare institutions and 2 more
  • Other public welfare$39.1 billion
  • Welfare institutions$263 million
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$131 million
  • Veterans' services$9.3 million
Sent to local governments
25%$30.2 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to school districts; sent to local governments: other and not broken out and 21 more
  • Sent to school districts$19.6 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$2.69 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other public welfare$1.97 billion
  • Sent to local governments: public health$1.38 billion
  • Sent to local governments: hospitals$1.21 billion
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$1.10 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other education$764 million
  • Sent to local governments: housing and community development$291 million
  • Sent to local governments: general support$265 million
  • Sent to school districts (colleges)$262 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$157 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$138 million
  • Sent to the federal government$111 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$74.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$55.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$47.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: inspections and regulation$36.8 million
  • Sent to local governments: garbage and solid waste$34.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: probation, parole and other corrections$18.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: prisons and jails$14.1 million
  • Sent to local governments: airports$13.6 million
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$11.0 million
  • Sent to local governments: sewer systems$5.9 million
Schools and colleges
12%$14.2 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; scholarships and other education subsidies and 2 more
  • Colleges and universities$10.5 billion
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$1.46 billion
  • Other education$1.14 billion
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$1.08 billion
Health and hospitals
9.2%$11.2 billion
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$7.36 billion
  • Public health$3.86 billion
Roads, transit and parking
8.1%$9.89 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; toll roads and bridges and 3 more
  • Roads and highways$8.16 billion
  • Toll roads and bridges$1.71 billion
  • Airports$7.0 million
  • Public transit$5.4 million
  • Ports and harbors$3.6 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
4.7%$5.77 billion
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; police and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$2.74 billion
  • Police$1.72 billion
  • Courts and legal services$793 million
  • Inspections and regulation$328 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$190 million
Running the government and other costs
4.6%$5.57 billion
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; other and not broken out and 3 more
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$2.49 billion
  • Other and not broken out$1.47 billion
  • Government buildings$848 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$711 million
  • Other government administration$51.7 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
1.9%$2.38 billion
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesLiquor stores; garbage and solid waste and 1 more
  • Liquor stores$2.31 billion
  • Garbage and solid waste$54.2 million
  • Sewer systems$22.1 million
Interest on debt
1.5%$1.79 billion
Environment and natural resources
0.7%$868 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$868 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.6%$722 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$705 million
  • Libraries$16.8 million
Housing and community development
0.2%$235 million
Pennsylvania page →

Your county

Lackawanna County

$305 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023.

Where the money comes from

County taxes34%Fees for services33%State tax money26%Federal tax money3.6%Fines and other2.6%Local tax money0.1%

What stands out

33%

of Lackawanna County's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 11%.

Full Lackawanna County breakdown

County taxes34%

Property tax
33%$92.5 million
Other taxes
1.5%$4.1 million
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes
  • Other selective sales taxes$4.1 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services33%

Fees for services
33%$92.2 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges
  • Other service charges$92.2 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money3.6%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
3.6%$10.2 million

State tax money26%

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

From the state
26%$73.9 million

Local tax money0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
0.1%$348 thousand

Fines and other2.6%

Interest, rents and other
2.5%$7.0 million
Fines
<0.1%$164 thousand
Lackawanna County page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails49%Running the government and other costs18%Social services16%Parks, recreation and libraries5.4%Housing and community development3.6%All other spending8.2%

What stands out

16%

of Lackawanna County's spending goes to social services.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people spends 1.5%.

Full Lackawanna County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
49%$151 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsCourts and legal services; prisons and jails and 2 more
  • Courts and legal services$95.6 million
  • Prisons and jails$35.7 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$10.2 million
  • Police$9.4 million
Running the government and other costs
18%$54.1 million
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting and other and not broken out
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$29.0 million
  • Other and not broken out$25.0 million
Social services
16%$47.8 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$47.8 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
5.4%$16.4 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$8.8 million
  • Libraries$7.6 million
Housing and community development
3.6%$11.1 million
Roads, transit and parking
3.6%$11.1 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$11.1 million
Interest on debt
2.9%$8.8 million
Health and hospitals
1.7%$5.2 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$5.2 million
Lackawanna County page →

Your city

City of Scranton

$87.0 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023.

Where the money 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%
Full Scranton breakdown

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
Scranton page →

Where the money 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%.

Full Scranton breakdown

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
Scranton page →

Your schools

Scranton City School District

$239 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State tax money67%School district taxes30%County and local tax money1.5%Fines and other1.4%Fees for services (school lunches, school tuition and transportation)0.2%
Full Scranton City School District breakdown

What stands out

6%

of Scranton City School District's money comes from a personal income tax.Most school districts with 5,000 to 25,000 students get none.

School district taxes30%

Property tax
20%$47.6 million
Individual income tax
6.0%$14.4 million
Other taxes
4.1%$9.8 million
What's in other taxesOther taxes not classified elsewhere and public utility taxes
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$9.7 million
  • Public utility taxes$60 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services0.2%

Fees for services
0.2%$422 thousand
What's in fees for servicesOther school charges; school lunches and 1 more
  • Other school charges$233 thousand
  • School lunches$151 thousand
  • School tuition and transportation$38 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

State tax money67%

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

From the state
67%$159 million

County and local tax money1.5%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
1.5%$3.6 million

Fines and other1.4%

Interest, rents and other
1.4%$3.4 million
Scranton City School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges94%Interest on debt3.9%Sent to other local governments2.0%
Full Scranton City School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
94%$225 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$225 million
Interest on debt
3.9%$9.4 million
Sent to other local governments
2.0%$4.7 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to school districts
  • Sent to school districts$4.7 million
Scranton City School District page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

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

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.

Scranton City School District. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

How a ZIP is matched. A ZIP code is not a government boundary, so we match it to the cities, counties and school districts that overlap it, using Census Bureau geography. Where a ZIP crosses several, each one is shown with its share of the ZIP. Each government's money covers its own operations only; the others listed here are separate.

Latest recorded year. The year differs by government: each block shows the newest fiscal year on file. A Census survey year covers fiscal years ending July 1 of the year before through June 30 of that year.