CLEARFIELD – Clearfield County will not see a tax increase in 2009.
That announcement was made Tuesday when the Clearfield County Commissioners adopted the tentative 2009 budget.
“We have been working very diligently,” said Chairman Commissioner John Sobel.
Commissioner Mark McCracken said the commissioners have been working on the budget with department heads for about the last eight weeks.
“The way the economy is our taxpayers couldn’t suffer that, (a tax increase),” said McCracken.
He also said the county has to recognize that state and federal funding is drying up or not coming in at all. He pointed to the state’s reimbursement for the district attorney’s salary. He noted that while the state is required to pay it, it did not in 2008 and it appears won’t in 2009.
Commissioner Joan Robinson McMillen said the county wants to continue to provide the protection and services for its citizens without increasing taxes.
“It’s about as lean as you can get and still provide … quality services,” she said of the budget.