Bucks Bucking Trend?

From the BCCT.

Bucks will not raise taxes in ’09
County officials used $3.2 million from a reserve fund, increased conservative revenue projections and cut vehicle costs.
By JENNA PORTNOY

For the third consecutive year, Bucks County will not raise taxes in 2009, instead opting to take a $3.2 million budget shortfall from the rainy day fund.

The county finance department cut an initial $7.1 million spending gap nearly in half mostly by increasing conservative revenue projections and reducing vehicle costs.

Poor performance on pension fund investments and a 12 percent increase in health care costs account for a $6.8 million budget hit.

The tax rate will remain at 21.9 mills next year. That means a resident owning property assessed at the county average of $35,942 will pay $789 in taxes next year, the same as in 2007 and 2008. A mill is a tax of $1 on every $1,000 of assessed value.

Commissioners approved the $467.6 million spending plan by a vote of 2-1, along party lines. All three commissioners praised the county financial team. Taking money from the rainy day fund will reduce the total to about $68 million.

Commissioner Diane Marseglia, the only Democrat on the three-member board, said she wanted commissioners to enforce 2 percent across-the-board cuts for all departments, eliminate a human resources position, drop benefits for row officers’ solicitors and reduce 3 percent cost of living raises for non-union workers. Marseglia also objected to the budget process, which she said discourages the public discussion of potential cuts and their implications.

No members of the public attended a public hearing on the budget.

Commissioner Jim Cawley, a Republican, has said if the county ever decided to reduce raises, the move would have to affect all employees, both union and non-union.

Brian Hessenthaler, director of finance and administration, said the county’s projections still reflect the global financial meltdown, but to a lesser extent than first anticipated. For example, the final budget anticipates fewer delinquent taxpayers — down from 4 percent to about 3 percent — which added $1.7 million to the spending plan.

He also found an additional $360,000 in gaming revenue; $175,000 in revenue from clerk of courts, prothonotary and sheriff ’s fees and $55,000 from a health department grant that will not expire next year as previously anticipated. The county plans to bring in $1 million from the sale of the Quakertown Annex on Route 309.

The county will not hire a public records officer at a salary of $61,800. Instead, the county will name an existing employee to fulfill duties mandated by the state Right to Know law.

Hessenthaler asked all county departments to slash 10 percent from their budgets in case the state makes drastic cuts that affect county spending. Although only about half of the departments responded, he said, the revised budgets helped him identify $100,000 in deferred vehicle purchases.

The other departments will be made to comply and if more savings can be identified, Hessenthaler will make additional cuts.

Corrections also wanted to spend $148,000 on vehicles next year. Instead the purchases were postponed or officials will use unassigned cars from the county fleet. Finally, he said, the county will save $16,000 by taking cars away from 18 employees assigned vehicles 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Commissioners plan to hold a special meeting 6 p.m. Dec. 29 to set the salary for two elected jury commissioners. Commissioner Charley Martin, also a Republican, suggested eliminating the jobs, which pay $19,600 each plus benefits, but that must be accomplished at the state level.

The state-mandated minimum salary is $10,500. Any changes would affect officials beginning four-year terms in 2010.