SCRANTON - The court hearing on Scranton's commuter tax proposal ended this afternoon, leaving the fate of the levy in the hands of a three-judge panel.

Attorneys for both sides rested their case after nearly 10 hours of testimony over two days. A decision is expected by Friday or early next week.

The commuter tax, which if approved will go into effect in 2013, is a one percent tax increase on the earned incomes of nonresident Scranton workers.

Scranton's designation as a financially-distressed allows the city to impose the special tax provided that it receives the court's approval. Scranton has been in distressed status since 1992.

Local municipal governments, including many in the Abingtons, and other residents are fighting against the tax. They claim the tax places an undue burden on nonresident workers and taxes those who don't have the power to vote in Scranton elections.

The city maintains that it needs the tax to balance its budget and that is has exhausted all other options.

For complete coverage of the hearing, please see the Dec. 19 print edition.