Property tax rates are rising in 29 of Luzerne County’s 76 municipalities, and Wilkes-Barre Twp. has the largest percentage increase at nearly 64%.
The largest increase in mills is in Ashley, where the property tax rate is up nearly 62% from 4.85 mills to 7.85 mills. The tax rate in Wilkes-Barre Twp. is rising from 2.75 mills to 4.5 mills.
Hazleton continues to have the largest municipal property tax rate in the county, and Hazleton’s tax rate is up 22% from 9.13 mills to 11.14 mills. A mill is a measurement to calculate property taxes that’s a $1 tax on every $1,000 in assessed property value.
The city of Wilkes-Barre is the only municipality in the county with its own unique system of assessed property valuation, which make the city’s tax rate incomparable to other municipalities in the county. The city rate of 141.33 mills remains unchanged.
The county, the 12 school districts in the county and 75 of the 76 municipalities in the county use the county’s system of assessed property valuation, which is based on a countywide market analysis conducted in 2008.
White Haven has the second-highest tax rate in the county at 8.25 mills after a 10% increase boosted the tax rate by 0.75 mill. The borough of Plymouth is third at 8.22 mills, which includes a 6.5% increase of 0.5 mill.
The city of Pittston is fourth at 8.1 mills and raised the tax rate for the first time since 2010. The Pittston rate includes a 18.2% increase of 1.25 mills.
Nanticoke is fifth at 7.9758 mills, and this year’s 15% increase is the first since 2023. The Nanticoke tax rate is up 1.05 mills.
Six municipalities increased the tax rate by 50% or more — Wilkes-Barre Twp., Ashley, Plains Twp. Newport Twp., Kingston Twp. and Dennison Twp.
In Plains Twp., the tax rate is up 52% from 1.03 mills to 1.97 mills. It’s a 50% increase in Newport Twp. (4.5 to 6.75), Kingston Twp. (1 to 1.5) and Dennison Twp. (0.5 to 0.75 ).
Wilkes-Barre Twp.
Wilkes-Barre Twp.’s tax rate is up nearly 64% for a variety of reasons, Mayor Carl Kuren explained in a Facebook post, noting that revenue from mercantile and property taxes are down because of declining retail sales.
The township is full of national chain retailers and restaurants, but retail businesses have struggled since 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Kuren said.
“Stores were closed and online shopping increased tenfold, causing the traditional brick and mortar stores to suffer declining sales, some ultimately having to close their doors and go out of business,” Kuren said.
The township lost $477,000 in tax revenue over the last two years because of reductions in the assessed values of commercial and retail properties, Kuren said. The Wyoming Valley Mall’s assessed value plunged from $68.7 million to $13.6 million through negotiations with taxing bodies.
Kuren also pointed to rising police department costs and noted that “the 2025 budget fell short by $320,000, as building permits for new commercial establishments simply never occurred due to what has been happening with the state of the larger economy.”
Other tax increases
The 18 other municipalities with tax increases this year are:
No tax increases
The tax rate is not increasing in 47 county municipalities. Slocum Twp. and Buck Twp. do levy a municipal property tax.
The tax rate isn’t changing in the following municipalities: Sugar Notch, 6 mills; Hanover Twp., 5.5; Freeland, 5.27; Penn Lake, 4.6; West Pittston, 4.295; Warrior Run, 3.8; Wyoming, 3.7905; Conyngham, 3.63; Salem Twp. 3.25; Nescopeck, 3.2; Avoca, 3.1; Duryea, 2.7; Swoyersville, 2.55; Courtdale, 2.5; West Wyoming, 2.5; Hughestown, 2.4; Pittston Twp., 1.9; Conyngham Twp., 1.877; Fairview Twp., 1.85; Laflin, 1.8476; Kingston, 1.55; Nescopeck, 1.55; Laurel Run, 1.4683; Hunlock Twp., 1.41; Plymouth Twp., 1.386, Wright Twp., 1.3; Shickshinny, 1.1329; Butler Twp., 1.098; Rice Twp., 1.08; Foster Twp., 1; Dorrance Twp., 0.75; Hazle Twp., 0.75; Pringle, 0.75; Black Creek Twp., 0.72; Franklin Twp., 0.635; Yatesville, 0.612; Huntington Twp., 0.58; Bear Creek Village, 0.549; Lake Twp., 0.5; Ross Twp., 0.44; Union Twp., 0.4; New Columbus, 0.37; and Jeddo, 0.336.
The tax rate for Hollenback Twp. is decreasing from 0.6 mill to 0.58 mill, according to county documents.
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