DANVILLE — The Montour County commissioners have pared a proposed 21 percent real estate tax hike down to a quarter of a mill increase, or 8 percent, for 2010.
They cut $235,000 in spending and transferred $200,000 from the operating reserve to help balance the budget, said board Chairman Trevor Finn.
Even with that, it left a shortfall of $253,160, resulting in the first tax increase since 2007.
The quarter-mill increase would raise the real estate tax from 2.99 mills to 3.249 mills. The value of that millage is $1.13 million.
This would amount to an increase of $62.75 on a property assessed at $250,000, $25 on a property assessed at $100,000 and $3.75 on a $15,000 mobile home, according to Vice Chairman Jack Gerst.
The commissioners tentatively adopted the budget for 2010 Tuesday. General fund expenditures are $8.24 million, and general fund revenues are $8.26 million. The 2010 budget is 11 percent higher than the 2009 spending plan of $7.43 million.
Finn said spending cuts ranged from $50 in postage to $50,000 in the county retirement contribution. Cuts include no money for recreation with the county using tourism dollars for recreation, no money for the Danville-Riverside Airport, no funds for the West Nile program, which has been discontinued by the state, and keeping budgets flat for the conservation district and Penn State Extension Service, Finn said.
“The airport seems to be doing fine on its own. I hope the state will reconsider the West Nile program, but at this point, we can’t afford to continue it,” Finn said. The program is estimated at $60,000.
The commissioners included $100,000 in the budget for the district attorney’s salary, assuming the county will be paid by the state for its 65 percent share of the salary for 2008, 2009 and 2010, he said.
The budget shortfall results from health insurance rising by 32 percent per employee, the annual retirement contribution increasing 57 percent and utility costs increasing 30 percent.
The commissioners were able to cut money from the retirement contribution since investments look positive and the actuary may be able recalculate the amount the county pays by using a lower percentage of employee raises. The county’s retirement contribution is due in April.
On Tuesday, the county received $19,000 from the state for part of the DA’s salary owed for 2008.
The general fund budget is inflated by $755,970 due to day care grant pass-through funds. The 2010 budget includes a carryover of $185,241 with no capital projects planned.
Finn said office holders worked the entire year to keep spending down. “They helped get the budget where it is. It could have been a lot worse,” he said.
Other budgets the commissioners tentatively approved were $171,540 in expenditures and $279,518 in revenues for liquid fuels and $638,997 in expenses and $659,489 in revenues for transit.
The commissioners also approved a tax anticipation loan to go in effect Jan. 5 for $1.27 million at a rate of 3.12 percent from FNB Bank. The loan would be paid back in a year or sooner.
Finn said if the state doesn’t come through with its share of the money for the DA’s salary for 2008 through 2010, “We will be going into 2011 with a $300,000 shortfall.”
News
Tax hike slashed to 1/4-mill
21% increase initially proposed
- News
-
-
Buyer: Pine Meadow must be vacated
With only five days to go before a federal public housing contract runs out, Ramon Margary occupies one of two of 100 apartments yet to be vacated at Pine Meadow.
-
Care home's $68G fine in limbo
A hearing was canceled Friday to determine if the president of a corporation, that was convicted of stealing money from a resident of a Selinsgrove personal care home, is liable to pay its $68,000 fine.
-
Group offers weapons against cyber crime
With increased budget pressures forcing more police departments to consider placing every available officer on patrol as much as possible, a nonprofit organization is providing funding to make the case that it makes sense to continue efforts to try to identify sexual predators online.
-
Ex-chief clerk fights to keep lawsuit alive
Kymberley Best, the fired Northumberland County chief clerk, is willing to dismiss one count of her federal lawsuit but opposes a defense motion to dismiss the entire case.
-
Judge sets May trial date for Sandusky abuse case
BELLEFONTE — A judge said today he would decide soon whether to grant former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky greater freedom — and visits from his young grandchildren — while he awaits trial on child sex-abuse charges, but prosecutors countered that Sandusky's home is not a safe place for children.
-
Lewisburg schools face cuts in personnel, programs
LEWISBURG -- Superintendent Mark DiRocco told the Lewisburg school board Thursday night that a proposed block grant system of school budget funding will run the district short of cash that will have to be made up through personnel and program cuts. Lewisburg's proposed 2012-13 budget stands at $28.6 million, with no less but also no more money coming from Harrisburg. "Even a neutral budget is problematic," DiRocco said.
-
Mom: Keller's response left her cold
LEWISBURG -- Like many people, Elise Nicol is concerned about Marcellus Shale and the industry's effects on Pennsylvania's environment. The Lewisburg mother of two cares about it enough that she sent an email to state Rep. Fred Keller, R-85 of Kreamer, asking him to oppose House Bill 1950, which passed the General Assembly on Wednesday.
-
Point Township authority concerned by sewer plant violations
NORTHUMBERLAND -- Point Township Sewer Authority members Thursday night expressed concerns about a Feb. 3 letter sent to the Northumberland Sewer Authority by the state's Department of Environmental Protection saying that the borough authority has violated the Clean Streams Act.
-
Persing truck fee idea stalls
SUNBURY -- While Pennsylvania has passed legislation allowing communities to collect impact fees in 35 counties, Northumberland County is not one of them, and business leaders and lawmakers do not think Sunbury Mayor David Persing's plan to try to do his own version of an impact fee will pass muster.
-
Barber draws a crowd
DANVILLE -- The talk can be spirited at times, ranging from hunting to sports to home repairs. "You hear all kinds of stories," Gene Koehler, of Riverside, said Thursday as he waited for a haircut at The Masters barbershop, 209 Mill St. No appointment is necessary. Customers can just walk in.
-
State board approves table games at Valley Forge casino
VALLEY FORGE — A casino resort scheduled to open this spring in the Philadelphia suburb of Valley Forge has been approved for table games.
-
Doctors telling more adults: Get out and exercise
ATLANTA — A new study shows more and more U.S. adults are being told by their doctor to get off their duffs and exercise. A government survey found nearly 33 percent of adults who saw a doctor in the previous year said they were told to exercise. That was up from about 23 percent in 2000.
- More News Headlines
-
