CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield County Commissioners continued to give residents reprieve and decided not to raise real estate taxes when they unanimously approved the county’s 2012 tentative budget at Tuesday’s workshop meeting.
The commissioners lowered real estate taxes by 2.5 mills, or 12 percent, from 21 mills to 18.5 mills last year, according to previous GantDaily reports. Real estate taxes will remain at 18.5 mills for the upcoming year’s budget.
In its preliminary budget, the county is anticipating $19,968,329 in revenues and expenditures of $20,305,729, a deficit of $337,400 in its general fund. However, the county realized a surplus of more than $300,000 in its liquid fuels fund this past year, making it a “flat budget,” Commissioner Joan Robinson-McMillen said.
She said general fund revenues have risen from last year’s $18,211,888, while expenditures have come down from $21,181,843 a year ago. She noted that last year, the county was preparing for a $2.9 million deficit.
According to her, the county made cuts where possible without sacrificing its services, and in some instances, they added employee positions. For example, one full-time and three part-time corrections officer positions were created at the Clearfield County Jail, which she said eased employee scheduling there.
In the 2011 budget, the county had 278 full- and part-time employees. The county currently has 276 positions in the upcoming year’s budget, according to correspondence received by Commissioner Mark B. McCracken after the meeting via e-mail.
In addition, Robinson-McMillen pointed out the county experienced what she described as a “huge savings” in its utilities. Further, she said it had saved $30,000 in utilities at the Clearfield County Administrative Offices versus what they had been paying out for the Multi-Service Center.
McCracken thanked other elected officials and appointed department heads for complying throughout the budget process. “They understand the tough economic times and the state and federal budget problems and know we’re not expecting any extra money,” he said.
Echoing the previous thoughts of the board, Commissioner John A. Sobel said the county didn’t cut services, and most importantly, it didn’t burden the taxpayers with what they couldn’t afford.
The commissioners must place its tentative budget on display for 20 days, and it will be available online at the Clearfield County Government web site. It will be finalized at the Dec. 27 commissioners meeting.