COUDERSPORT — Potter County Commissioners passed a half-mill property tax increase at Thursday’s meeting, and chose to continue waiving the per capita tax.
Commissioner Paul Heimel stated that the increase would result in the average property owner paying an additional $1.04 per month, or about $12 per year. The increase brings in about $170,000 in added revenue for the county.
The per capita tax would be levied at $5 per adult individual living in Potter County, averaging a $10 to $15 saving for the average family.
Commissioners stated that much of the budget is based on state and federal funding that is not guaranteed, but officials are hopeful that the federal and state governments come through with anticipated funding.
The county still awaits some payments from the state, including the Commonwealth’s two-thirds share of district attorney salary of more than $115,000, according to Heimel.
Another resolution approved SEDA-COG (Council of Governments) to apply on behalf of the Shinglehouse Borough for Community Development Block Grant competitive funding for improvements at the wastewater treatment plant.
The county is helping to fund the project by dedicating the year’s CDBG entitlement funds of $214,659 to a $1.2 million project to upgrade facilities. This is the first of two proposed phases.
Shinglehouse Borough has put up $223,480, which allowed engineering studies to be completed early, paving the way for construction to start earlier.
Commissioners acknowledged receipt of a letter that signals the dissolution of the Potter County Visitors Association. The PCVA will end operations as of June of 2017, and recommends that Potter County further look into a relationship with Tioga County for promotion of tourism in the region.
The county will solicit boroughs and municipalities for support of the changes, which came about due to financial pressures and the resignation of PCVA’s former head-of-operations.
According to the letter, PCVA plans to re-register as a 501-C to operate as an events and activities organization within the county, with plans to continue organizing long-standing events such as the Potter County Marathon and Austin Dam Show. Several PCVA board members plan to transition onto a Tioga-Potter tourism board, “providing a continuum of leadership and representation for Potter County.”
Heimel announced the passage of a health and justice-related legislative packet. HR-34, known as the 21st Century Cures Act, includes provisions related to criminal justice, mental health and addiction.
The provisions were attached to a bill aimed at accelerating new prescription drugs to market and stimulating research at the National Institutes of Health, and seek to reduce the number of people with mental illness in jails, providing community-based behavioral health services and combatting the opioid epidemic.
“This is a bi-partisan effort with broad support on both sides of the aisle,” said Heimel. The bill passed the House by a 392-26 vote, and the Senate with a vote of 94-5.
The next meeting of the Potter County Commissioners will be held at 11 a.m. on Dec. 22 at the Gunzburger Building in Coudersport.
