The nonprofit prospective buyer of Wilkes-Barre General Hospital has agreed to pay Luzerne County $850,000 in lieu of taxes annually from 2026 through 2029, according to Tuesday’s County Council agenda.

This payment in lieu of taxes, often called a PILOT, came up because the buyer — Tenor Health Foundation Inc. — needs council approval to borrow approximately $72 million in a package that includes tax-exempt bonds. The county is not pledging or obligating funds for the borrowing and won’t be liable for any payments, officials emphasized.

In considering the financing approval request, several County Council members expressed concerns about the loss of tax revenue if the purchase goes through because the hospital is currently under for-profit ownership.

County taxing bodies are projected

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