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Larksville, PA municipal building (2), Sept. 2023Photo: Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page, my Commons user talk page, or my English Wikipedia user talk page; I'll know about it a lot faster) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Larksville

Larksville spent less per resident in 2022 than 88% of similar cities

Larksville’s borough government spent $2.3 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $530 per resident.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$2.3M
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$530
In 2022: $530, less than 88% of 290 similar cities
Long-term debt
Not reported
end of 2022, reported
Borough staff, 2022
15
full-time · 26 part-time · March payroll $90,500
Typical tax bill
$2,545
1.74% of home value · PA 1.30%

What stands out about how Larksville is run

Read from the borough’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$530 per resident in 2022: less than 88% of them

Larksville’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($530 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 290 Pennsylvania cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $858, and the middle half spent $663–$1,098. Larksville spent less than 88% of them.

Middle half of the group, $663–$1,098Median $858Larksville

Includes sewer and trash ($388,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
290

Pennsylvania cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Larksville itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $530 per resident a year, or $1.45 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 20%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 32%Income taxes 18%Fees & charges 13%Interest, fines & other 11%From the federal government 9%From the state 8%Other taxes & licenses 8%
Over the years

No trend yet

Larksville reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,545 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.74% of the home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Jackson Township$4,650
Chase$4,147
Pennsylvania$3,311
Courtdale$2,687
Larksville$2,545
Hanover Township$2,436
Wilkes-Barre$2,083
Edwardsville$1,841
Plymouth Township$1,797
Plymouth$1,616
$2,545
typical bill a year
1.74%
effective rate
$146,300
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Larksville’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to Larksville’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Larksville →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Larksville

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See larksvilleborough.org for Larksville’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Larksville yet.larksvilleborough.org ↗
Agendas

Larksville’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The borough posts agendas and minutes on larksvilleborough.org ↗.

Who works for Larksville

One full-time borough employee for every 293 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (4,395).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Police8 + 3 pt
Administration & buildings1 + 13 pt
Fire3 + 7 pt
Roads & transportation3 + 1 pt
Health & welfare0 + 1 pt
Sewer & trash0 + 1 pt
15
full-time
26
part-time
$90,500
payroll for March 2022
$1.1M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$57,100
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
8
sworn police officers
3
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Larksville had 3.4 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 175 of the 290 Pennsylvania cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 3.5: Larksville had fewer than 51% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Wyoming Valley West School District

Larksville’s K–12 school district, shared with Courtdale, Edwardsville, Forty Fort, Kingston, Luzerne and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Larksville →
$16,982
per pupil · PA $21,758
4,901
students
$38.8 million
long-term debt

Of the $16,982 per pupil, $10,440 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 40%State 41%Federal 19%

Pennsylvania districts overall: 55% local, 37% state, 8% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

Larksville’s votes are counted by county

Pennsylvania reports official results by county and precinct, not by borough, so there are no official results for Larksville alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Luzerne County’s results.

President · Luzerne County’s results156,150 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican59.2%92,444 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat40.0%62,504 votes

Others: 0.8% (1,202 votes).

Most votes in Luzerne County: Donald J Trump

Pennsylvania: Trump 50.4%, Harris 48.7%

The county’s page

100% of Larksville lies in Luzerne County. Every 2024 race in Luzerne County is on the county’s page.

Luzerne County’s 2024 results →
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Larksville

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Larksville.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Pennsylvania HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Pennsylvania SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Pennsylvania

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Larksville compares with the towns next door

Larksville spent $530 per resident in 2022; the 7 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $354 to $1,977. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Plymouth$354$1,616
Courtdale$377$2,687
Jackson Township$405$4,650
Plymouth Township$589$1,797
Edwardsville$683$1,841
Hanover Township$863$2,436
Wilkes-Barre$1,977$2,083
Larksville$530$2,545

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Larksville’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Larksville’s government

How much does Larksville spend per resident?

About $530 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $530 was less than 88% of 290 Pennsylvania cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Larksville?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,545 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.74% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.30% across Pennsylvania. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see larksvilleborough.org.

Who runs Larksville’s government?

See larksvilleborough.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Larksville yet.

How did Larksville vote in 2024?

Pennsylvania counts votes by county and precinct, not by borough, so there are no official results for Larksville alone. Luzerne County, where 100% of Larksville lies, voted Trump 59.2%, Harris 40.0% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Larksville?

15 full-time and 26 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $90,500 (about $1.1M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Larksville in the state legislature?

State Senate District 20 (Lisa Baker) and State House District 119 (Alec Ryncavage). The House district also covers 12 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Larksville’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →