Greene County Commissioners plan tax increase
WAYNESBURG – On Tuesday, the Greene County Commissioners approved the preliminary 2004 unified budget of $26.3 million, which includes a 1-mill tax increase. That tax hike amounts to an extra $10 for every $10,000 worth of property owned in the county. The single mill will provide an additional $1.3 million to the total budget. County assessed value is $1.3 billion.
If the budget is approved, total millage will now be 5.77. The 2004 budget, which includes $10.5 million in the general fund, represents an increase of $3 million over the current budget of $23.3 million.
Outgoing Commissioner Farley Toothman noted that this is a “transition year,” as Commissioner Scott Blair will also be leaving office. Toothman said the current board tried to prepare a budget with some leeway so that the new board won’t be forced to re-open the budget at the start of the year.
“We chose not to do a deficit budget,” Toothman said. “This is a balanced budget.”
The current fund balance is $1.6 million, including $600,000 in cash.
“We will not touch the fund balance,” Toothman said.” It is regrettable anytime we raise taxes.”
The largest costs affecting the budget, he said, reflect situations “beyond any commissioner’s control.”
The biggest hit came from the depleted tax base, including $70 million lost on the Hatfield’s Ferry Power Station assessment, $14 million lost from coal depletion and a nearly $500,000 decrease in coal value from what chief assessor H. John Frazier called a “miscommunication between a coal company and the county’s mineral consultants.”
Another big blow to the budget came from various increased insurance premiums, including health insurance, which rose from $450,000 this year to $700,000 in 2004.
Fire insurance on county facilities more than doubled from $90,000 to $210,000 in 2004.
Toothman also noted that increased workers’ compensation claims added another $75,000 to the budget.
The only expense Toothman mentioned that was not required is the $85,000 earmarked for the county’s 16 fire departments, providing $5,000 for each one. The decision to help fund the fire departments was a “judgment call,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said; “We’ve cut $1.5 million from the requests of other local officials.”
Highlights of the budget include the commissioners finance department, which increased from nearly $900,000 to $1.6 million in 2004. Additionally, the discretionary planning fund increased from $190,000 to over $1 million in 2004; and, the commissioners administration budget increased by $300,000.
Chief clerk Gene Lee said these three large increases are due to a realignment of various departments in order to allow the new commissioners some discretion next year.
“The new board will have to divide it all back up again,” Lee said.
For example, Lee said, information technology and also human resources departments have been moved under commissioners administration.
Also increased significantly is the day camp budget which rose from $42,000 to $70,000 in 2004, as well as the core human services department program fund, which increased from $33,729 to $62,004 in 2004, largely due to the hiring of a counselor at the county jail. Most of that cost was covered by a grant.
Lee said a grant helped pay for day camp in 2003, but that grant was not renewed, leaving the county with that cost.
On the other hand, the budget for the county airport was cut by more than half, from $212,00 to $143,000 in 2004.
The commissioners had planned to extend the runway, but Lee expected that project to be postponed until 2005.
Mental health will also operate on less than half of what it had in the previous budget, decreasing from almost $98,000 to just $42,000 in 2004.
Also decreased significantly is the sheriff’s department allotment, which shrank from $263,000 to $215,537 in 2004.
Lee said a $29,000 vehicle purchase was cut from that department.
Lee noted that by law, the preliminary budget is not permitted to be increased unless the county gets a windfall of some sort. He added that the health insurance figures are “fluid” as a carrier hasn’t been selected for next year.
“The state has to come up with a compromise on property taxes. The state mandates are putting pressures on county and local governments,” said Commissioner Dave Coder, the only one who will return to the board next year.
But, Charles “Buck” Rush of Waynesburg said the 1-mill figure is misleading since millage is now computed using 100 percent market value, as opposed to 30 percent of market value reflected in the 2003 budget.
“The increase of 1 mill is the same as 3-mill raise,” Rush said.
The commissioners did not respond to Rush’s statement, but controller’s office officials acknowledged that this is true.
Jesse Wrick of Dunkard Township said; “A lot of us in Greene County are on a fixed income and can’t afford a property tax increase. …I’m not going to be a happy camper.”
Wrick said he received a 1.4 percent cost of living increase in his Social Security benefits, while county employees recently were given a 2 percent increase.
“You’re making the hen lay twice as many eggs to keep up with the rooster,” he quipped.
Blair noted that he has not previously been in favor of any tax increase.
However, he added, “Greene County is like the Titanic. …We’re in the iceberg and we’re bailing water.”
Formal adoption of the budget is scheduled for 9 a.m. Dec. 30 in the commissioners meeting room. The preliminary budget is now available for public review.