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McKean County Commissioners unveil proposed 2009 budget which calls for tax increase
By GEORGE PETRISEK
Era Correspondent
curmudgeon@zitomedia.net
SMETHPORT — The McKean County Commissioners unveiled their proposed 2009 budget Wednesday, a spending plan that calls for a 1.5 mill increase in property taxes, bringing the millage rate to 8.75 using the 100 percent ratio adopted in 2004.
The hike will cost property owners $15 per every $1,000 of their property’s assessed evaluation, or about $70 a year for the average home, if one uses the figures generated when homeowners applied for a Homestead Exemption.
County taxes were last increased in 2003.
The commissioners provided a two page rationale for the increase, citing a number of factors, including increased costs and decreased support from the state, as well as the fact that the previous board used a one time payment of $1.2 million from the Solid Waste Authority to balance the 2008 budget.
Among the “revenue shortfalls” listed in the cover letter, the commissioners note that the state budget includes only zero to one percent increases in funding for Human Services, a major expenditure category in the county budget.
In addition, the state did not appropriate approximately $100,000 as its share of the district attorney’s salary as had been done in previous years.
They also point out the assessed value of real estate in the county has increased only 0.06 percent this year, “far below the rate of inflation,” and there has been an increase in the number of delinquent property taxes.
Property taxes are by far the largest source of local revenue for the county, making up about $9.6 million of the approximately $34.6 million of the total budget.
Another $11.5 million comes from the state and $6.4 million from the federal government.
The balance of the revenue comes from a variety of fees and other sources.
In a revenue cut that is more difficult to calculate, the commissioners note that the City of Bradford has decided to take their trash to a site in New York state, rather than the Rustick landfill and that Port Allegany will change haulers at the end of the month and their trash will also go to New York. Since Rustick pays the county a royalty for every ton of garbage dumped at its facility, that means the county, as well as the landfill, loses revenue.
Also noted are some increased costs, including a 9 percent rise in health insurance costs, “necessary wage increases for employees” and the need to make a contribution to the retirement fund for the first time in several years.
Noting that they eliminated the positions and salaries of county manager and human resources director, they point out the sheriff is now warden of the jail, with several management positions eliminated there. They also expect to save about $100,000 at the jail by having staff prepare meals for the inmates.
In other cost-cutting or controlling moves, a new boiler and air conditioning system have been installed in the courthouse, and the maintenance department, rather than an outside contractor, is now removing snow.
The cover letter ends with the statement that the commissioners “… will continue to strive to hold down costs while continuing to deliver needed services to county residents.”
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