Cambria taxes will not increase

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November 25, 2009

By SANDRA K. REABUCK The Tribune-Democrat Wed Nov 25, 2009, 10:15 PM EST

EBENSBURG — Taxpayers will not see an increase in 2010 Cambria County taxes, although more revenue will go toward general use, commissioners said Wednesday.

Cambria’s total property tax millage will remain unchanged at 26.9 mills, with each mill producing about $1.1 million in revenue.

Most of the millage – 20.6 mills – is earmarked for general fund purposes, up from 19.85 this year.

Debt service drops to 4 mills from 5.3 due to a reduced payment.

A $6 million 2008 loan taken out to cover shortfalls at Laurel Crest, the county home, will be paid off with proceeds from the home’s sale to Grane Healthcare.

In addition, one mill of tax revenue is designated for Pennsylvania Highlands Community College. The amount designated had been 0.75, but the college actually received a higher amount from the county with $300,000 being allocated for construction. By having one mill designated, the college can use that guarantee as an incentive for grants, President Commissioner P.J. Stevens said.

There’s also a half-mill each for the county library system and for county parks/recreation.

Holding the line on taxes is a sharp contrast to a year ago when the commissioners approved a 3.65-mill increase to balance the 2009 budget.

It was the fourth tax increase in five years.

The 2010 budget – which was unveiled Wednesday – totals $141 million, down about $9 million from this year’s $150 million fiscal package. That figure does not include the $26 million budgeted for Laurel Crest this year. The nursing home goes into private ownership on Jan. 1 and no longer is part of the county’s fiscal plan.

The general fund – which pays for general government operations – will be $53.6 million next year, up $300,000 from 2009.

“It was a team effort to contain costs this year,” Stevens said, pointing to biweekly meetings that the commissioners had with Controller Ed Cernic Jr. to monitor expenditures and revenues.

There were some increases – including an 8 percent increase in health-care costs – that the county absorbed without raising taxes, Stevens said.

Commissioners credited the labor and management health-care committee with helping keep down increases.

The new budget lacks funding for any new positions, he said.

“We’re pinching our pennies; it’s a whisker-close budget,” Stevens said.

Commissioner Bill Harris said that Cambria’s budgets for the last several years have been “close to the belt, and this is no different. That helped us keep expenditures under control this year. I think we’ve come up with something fair for Cambria County.”

Cernic termed the budget “pretty realistic. We’re all cognizant of the taxpayers and the plight they’re going though.”

Commissioner Milan Gjurich said that the budget still is able to “meet the needs of citizens of Cambria County.” That includes human-service programs, 911 and EMS operations, the county prison and the courts, he said.

The budget will be on public display for 20 days.

It is scheduled for final adoption Dec. 18.

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