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In Focus

Cumberland County commissioners will vote on the final 2009 budget at the board’s Dec. 15 meeting.

It is expected the proposed 5 percent property tax increase will be maintained in that adoption. The increase will cost the average homeowner about $18 more per year in county property taxes.

Cumberland County taxes make up only about 15 percent of a homeowner’s total real estate bill. The local school district collects about 77 percent and the township gets the rest.

By Jason Scott, Sentinel Reporter, Nov. 28, 2008

Last updated: Friday, November 28, 2008 5:10 AM EST

Two weeks and not one phone call, not one e-mail.

That’s how long Cumberland County’s 2009 preliminary budget has been on public display.

That’s how much communication Commissioner Barb Cross has received from county residents about the proposal for next year, which calls for a 5 percent increase in property taxes.

“I would’ve expected some input, ideas, thoughts, recommendations from residents of the county,” Cross said before the Thanksgiving holiday.

If there are proposals out there to reduce spending, the Republican commissioner said she would be “anxious” to hear them before the budget is adopted by the board Dec. 15.

A 5 percent tax increase would generate $1.9 million in additional revenue for the county and cost the average homeowner, assessed at $158,034, about $18 more per year, officials have said.

That money would help offset costs related to the county prison expansion, currently underway, and the construction of a planned emergency services building.

‘A lot of uncertainty’

With just a little more than two weeks to go until the commissioners take a vote on the final budget, all three elected officials said it’s highly unlikely the 5 percent bump will be scaled back or go away entirely.

“There is a lot of uncertainty about what lies ahead for the economy,” said Chairman Commissioner Gary Eichelberger. “We want to avoid setting the county up for a massive gap in the future.”

The 5 percent increase, coupled with substantial spending cuts, compares very favorably to what most other area counties are doing and still maintains Cumberland County’s very low tax rate, by regional comparison, he explained. It should also help the county keep its fund balance up near $17 million — capital it relies on during the first quarter of the year to cover operating expenses.

The current county millage rate is 2.465 mils, of which 0.18 is the library tax.

“Ideally, we would all like to see it go down to 4 percent,” said Cross, though adding that may not be realistic in our current economic situation.

She is already looking ahead to the 2010 budget, which could present itself with even greater financial challenges.

“My anxiousness is that we will have to go back to taxpayers again next year for another increase,” she said. “I don’t believe we’re really going to feel the impact (of these economic conditions) until next year’s budget cycle.”

Work in progress

Democratic minority Commissioner Rick Rovegno said the county will probably be adjusting this budget after it’s approved, as officials continue to ask departments and row officers to search and try to find areas where they can reduce costs in 2009.

“I think this budget, candidly, will remain a work in progress through the new year,” he said.

Rovegno noted there are a couple of options on the table right now in the area of health care, which will hopefully yield a savings.

He has also highlighted increased operational expenses at the prison, due to the expansion, as another area where savings could be realized. Instead of hiring additional personnel, he would like to see current staff transferred to fill some of the needed positions.

“We want to make sure the cuts are wise and do not jeopardize public safety, health and welfare,” Rovegno said.

The three-phase prison expansion will cost the county at least $33 million. The $11.5 million first phase, which includes a new 160-bed male housing unit and construction of a new central booking station, began in August.

“Success in managing the budget will depend on doing a thousand little things better, not on one big quick fix,” Eichelberger said. “There is plenty of work left to do.”

At this point in the process, the commissioners’ office is evaluating numerous proposals to determine the impacts on operations and on the budget, he explained.

“No one is exempt this time,” he added.

Maybe also looking ahead to 2010 and beyond, Eichelberger said the county is not yet at an emergency point, but it needs to be prepared if that occurs.

“Can we move forward without large-scale disruption of operations? I hope so. Can we avoid furloughing county employees? I hope so,” he said. “Those things are all up for grabs at this point.”