Clinton County issued the following announcement on Dec. 3.
Although balancing the 2022 budget proved to be a bit challenging, the Clinton County Commissioners announced no tax increase is expected in the coming year. The county's current tax rate is 6.2 mills.
Commissioner Jeff Snyder presented a brief breakdown regarding the proposed budget, which was approved unanimously on Thursday morning. The budget will be considered for adoption during the commissioners' Dec. 30 meeting.
Snyder said the $43.9 million budget saw an increase in a few areas including wages, health benefits and contracts.
"These increases, along with maintaining appropriate fund balance; continuing to improve the county's infrastructure; and having to deal with a decrease in certain revenues from COVID-19 have created challenges in balancing the 2022 budget," he said.
Through those challenges however, Snyder said, the county is not looking to increase its tax millage in 2022.
"The highlights of the budget represent no increase in real estate taxes; still maintain a 10 percent general fund balance revenue; and maintain the required actuarially determined contribution of 2022," Snyder said.
Snyder noted that the county's chief assessor, Keith L. Yearick, projected total property values of $2,114,628,796 in 2021 that will generate about $13.05 million in real estate tax revenue in 2022.
"This is the first time in the last five years that the assessed values have increased by more than one percent," Snyder said.
Following Snyder's comments, the county's financial advisor Ed Zack provided his own rundown of the proposed budget.
Zack, of Susquehanna Accounting and Consulting Solutions, is contracted by the county to put finishing touches on the budget as well as provides other high level financial and accounting advice and consulting. Chief Clerk Jann Meyers said Zack has been an advisor of the county on financial matters for over 12 years.
According to Zack, 1 mill is worth $2.1 million in real estate tax money. Of that, the county typically collects 93 to 94 percent of that - or $1.9 million.
Zack touched on a few topics in the proposed budget, including the consolidation of various departments for probation into just one category.
"Two major departments, the prison expenses are budgeted at about $6.9 million and Children and Youth is about $6.3 million. So those two departments alone make up about 30 percent of the budget," Zack said.
Looking into the General Fund the budget increased about $1.5 million compared to 2021, he said. This is due to a variety of increases including in the medical contract at the correctional facility, wages, benefits and the tourism budget increased.
Zack said they increase the tourism budget by $100,000 in anticipation of collecting more hotel tax in 2022.
"We felt like with the pandemic and other things going on that it would be safe to increase that for 2022," he said.
The general fund in 2022 is also expected to see some transfers due to funding increases for children and youth, domestic relations and the department of emergency services, he continued.
"The contracts in the general fund went up about $100,000 so that adds up to $1.3 million, which makes up the majority of the increase in the budget for 2021 to 2022," Zack said.
Before motioning to approve the proposed budget, Snyder commended county employees for their work.
"We must recognize the hardwork and dedication of our elected officials and department heads in managing their respective staff and budget," Snyder said. "Without their help we could not have achieved a fiscally responsible budget."
"And finally, the county's employees throughout various departments who provided government services to all the county's residents," he continued. "We want to thank you for all the hardwork and dedication you have shown throughout these difficult and trying times."
The proposed budget was passed unanimously and will be considered for adoption at the commissioners' voting session on Thursday, Dec. 30 at 10 a.m.
Original source can be found here.
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