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Landowners in the area will not see an increase in the amount they pay the county for property taxes in 2022 if the preliminary budget, which was presented at the Lycoming County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, is approved. in December. The county’s current real estate rate is 6.5 miles.
Projected revenues included in the budget total $ 102.9 million, or $ 0.4 million, or 0.4% more than the 2021 budget. Next year’s expenses are expected to be $ 127.5 million. dollars, either an increase of $ 7.3 million or a 6% increase over the current year’s budget, according to Brandy Clemons, county director of budget and finance.
Clemons said taxes and other service charges are increasing and are mostly offset by decreases in all other revenue categories in the county.
The main contributors to the increase on the spending side are the $ 3.1 million capital expenditure for the construction of the county health center and the planned relocation of county departments from Executive Plaza to Third Street Plaza, which will take place after the sale of Executive Plaza, which is expected to happen, hopefully, next year, Clemons said.
No income was budgeted for this expected sale due to uncertainty as to when this would occur.
The marginal costs for the operational costs of the health center are also expected to increase by $ 1.2 million next year.
The health center would be used by county employees with the intention of reducing health insurance costs the county pays by addressing employee health issues.
“We are trying to have the vision that will help reduce insurance costs, so it is an investment in order to have healthy employees”, said Commissioner Scott Metzger.
The local use fund expects an increase of $ 3.1 million next year due to the continuation of the bridge consolidation program. This program is fully funded by the $ 5 fee that was added to vehicle registrations a few years ago, Clemons said.
The general fund balance in the 2020 financial statements is $ 26.5 million, Clemons told commissioners.
“We are looking to add a bit to that this year with all the open positions we have and the projects that are not completed and are in the process of being renewed,” said Clemons.
“We should not use the deficit but a real surplus most likely at the end of the current year”, she said.
Next year’s budget, however, includes a carry over of projects that weren’t completed this year and the offsetting income from the sale of buildings was not there.
“For taxpayers… when we propose a budget that can change as in 2021, our capital projects that are not there will obviously reduce spending for the 2021 budget but postpone them to 2022 (budget). So there is the reason why you are seeing this increase â€, said Commissioner Tony Mussare.
When asked by Mussare if this was the highest budget she’s ever seen, Clemons, who has worked in the county for 12 years, said: ” I believe him.”
“I should really look back but I would say yes” she said. “It’s a little higher than normal.”
“Much higher” Mussare said, “And it’s alarming, it’s no longer worrying, it’s alarming. We will have to control some of these expenses.
“With the decrease in funding for federal and state agencies, if we want this to become a future thing,” Clemons said, “We will have to tighten our belts a little more in the years to come to adapt.
The preliminary budget will be available for public inspection on the county’s website at www.lyco.org. Hard copies are available from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at the Commissioners’ Office, Comptroller’s Office, Budget and Finance Office, and the James V. Brown Library and at the six member libraries of the County Library System. By PAT CROSSLEY
pcrossley@sungazette.com
Landowners in the area will not see an increase in the amount they pay the county for property taxes in 2022 if the preliminary budget, which was presented at the Lycoming County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, is approved. in December. The county’s current real estate rate is 6.5 miles.
Projected revenues included in the budget total $ 102.9 million, or $ 0.4 million, or 0.4% more than the 2021 budget. Next year’s expenses are expected to be $ 127.5 million. dollars, either an increase of $ 7.3 million or a 6% increase over the current year’s budget, according to Brandy Clemons, county director of budget and finance.
Clemons said taxes and other service charges are increasing and are mostly offset by decreases in all other revenue categories in the county.
The main contributors to the increase on the spending side are the $ 3.1 million capital expenditure for the construction of the county health center and the planned relocation of county departments from Executive Plaza to Third Street Plaza, which will take place after the sale of Executive Plaza, which is expected to happen, hopefully, next year, Clemons said.
No income was budgeted for this expected sale due to uncertainty as to when this would occur.
The marginal costs for the operational costs of the health center are also expected to increase by $ 1.2 million next year.
The health center would be used by county employees with the intention of reducing health insurance costs the county pays by addressing employee health issues.
“We are trying to have the vision that will help reduce insurance costs, so it is an investment in order to have healthy employees”, said Commissioner Scott Metzger.
The local use fund expects an increase of $ 3.1 million next year due to the continuation of the bridge consolidation program. This program is fully funded by the $ 5 fee that was added to vehicle registrations a few years ago, Clemons said.
The general fund balance in the 2020 financial statements is $ 26.5 million, Clemons told commissioners.
“We are looking to add a bit to that this year with all the open positions we have and the projects that are not completed and are in the process of being renewed,” said Clemons.
“We should not use the deficit but a real surplus most likely at the end of the current year”, she said.
Next year’s budget, however, includes a carry over of projects that weren’t completed this year and the offsetting income from the sale of buildings was not there.
“For taxpayers… when we propose a budget that can change as in 2021, our capital projects that are not there will obviously reduce spending for the 2021 budget but postpone them to 2022 (budget). So there is the reason why you are seeing this increase â€, said Commissioner Tony Mussare.
When asked by Mussare if this was the highest budget she’s ever seen, Clemons, who has worked in the county for 12 years, said: ” I believe him.”
“I should really look back but I would say yes” she said. “It’s a little higher than normal.”
“Much higher” Mussare said, “And it’s alarming, it’s no longer worrying, it’s alarming. We will have to control some of these expenses.
“With the decrease in funding for federal and state agencies, if we want this to become a future thing,” Clemons said, “We will have to tighten our belts a little more in the years to come to adapt.
The preliminary budget will be available for public inspection on the county’s website at www.lyco.org. Hard copies are available from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at the Commissioners’ Office, Comptroller’s Office, Budget and Finance Office, and the James V. Brown Library and at the six member libraries of the County Library System.
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