Written by John Galt,
NEPA Media Group, LLC
Public records remain behind paywalls or offline entirely, while other Pennsylvania counties modernize
In 2025, it’s hard to believe Monroe County still charges residents to view basic public records — or that it offers no way to look up delinquent property taxes online. While counties across Pennsylvania have embraced transparency and convenience, Monroe continues to lag behind.
Public Records Locked Behind a Paywall
Deed and mortgage records in Monroe County are managed through a third-party platform called LANDEX, a system that forces users to “add to cart” and pay a $5 processing fee just to view a single document.
These are public records — funded by taxpayers and legally considered part of the public domain — yet they’re being monetized through a system that feels more like an online shopping cart than a public service.
Even more telling: York County, PA dropped LANDEX in 2025, opting for a more modern and open approach. Monroe County, however, continues to use the outdated platform, requiring residents to navigate an ecommerce-like interface to access their own property documents.
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Delinquent Taxes? You’ll Need to Call or Visit
Monroe County’s Tax Claim Bureau is responsible for collecting delinquent real estate taxes for the county’s 20 municipalities and four school districts — yet there is no way to search or review this information online. The county website offers only basic office information and a phone number. There’s no database, no parcel lookup tool, no downloadable list — nothing.
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In contrast, counties like Lehigh, Luzerne, and Lackawanna offer full online access to tax delinquency data, often integrated with GIS mapping and property records. Homeowners, investors, and township officials in Monroe County are left calling or visiting the office in person — an unnecessary burden in a digital age.
An Unforced Disadvantage
Even more frustrating is that these deficiencies don’t just affect residents — they slow down municipalities, discourage investment, and create unnecessary workload for county staff. Township managers are now forced to ask for improvements that should have been implemented a decade ago.
The question is: Why hasn’t Monroe County modernized?
Is it a budget issue? A lack of leadership? Or simply complacency?
Whatever the reason, the cost of staying behind is more than just inconvenience — it’s a barrier to transparency, growth, and good governance.
If other counties can modernize — and even abandon LANDEX entirely — there’s no reason Monroe can’t. Residents should not be charged to view their own records, nor forced to visit county offices to find out if a property is delinquent.
Monroe County has a choice: remain stuck in the past, or finally catch up to where the rest of Pennsylvania already is.
It’s time for change.
— Stay tuned to the Monroe County Reporter at MonroeCountyPA.com for continued coverage on transparency and accountability in our local government.