The mayor of Scranton, Paige Cognetti, has been making headlines with her proposed tax increase to fund diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the city government. The plan, which was part of the 2023 proposed budget, included a 3% property tax increase to generate an estimated $957,000 for the city.
The budget also included funding for eight new hires, including a DEI coordinator, which would have cost $25,500. However, the positions themselves were estimated to cost $380,500. Despite the proposed budget not being adopted, Cognetti's plan highlights her commitment to diversity in government.
Cognetti has emphasized her purposeful pursuit of diversity in government, stating that they are not doing it for publicity, but rather to make it a norm. She has also highlighted her efforts to bring more diverse representation to City Hall, which has seen an increase in people of color and women in government roles.
In a podcast appearance, Cognetti explained her thinking behind the proposed budget and DEI role. She stated that she believes that diversity should be an area where the government places more of its resources, and that hiring the best candidates has naturally led to greater diversity in government roles.
Cognetti's campaign has also pointed out that her opponent, Rep. Rob Bresnahan, has received government assistance for being "women-owned," support he claims is in line with DEI policies. However, the campaign has also noted that Bresnahan's company has received federal contracts, which it says is a conflict of interest.
Cognetti's campaign has highlighted her own efforts to reduce government spending and improve the city's credit rating. They have also pointed out that many of her other acts as mayor have directly helped bring the city's costs down, including balancing the budget and turning down a government car and gas card.
