CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield County Commissioners unanimously approved the tentative 2016 budget with a 1-mill tax increase during Tuesday’s work session.
“This year, the budget is very tight. Over the past eight years, we have lowered taxes by 2.5 mills, and we have held the line every year since then,” said Commissioner Joan Robinson-McMillen, chair.
According to her, the tentative budget is balanced with revenues and expenses anticipated at $28,836,169. She said at this point, it includes a 1-mill tax increase and will only take debt service from the county’s operating reserve.
Robinson-McMillen said, “…It is a budget that we struggled with. Things are down and services continue to rise.” For example, she said the outcome of the Sandusky case has made the county’s Children & Youth Services Office “busier,” and they’ve had to hire additional caseworkers.
Robinson-McMillen called attention to the fact that the county will have a CYS budget that totals $6,603,139. She said other significant service-related expenses will continue to be Domestic Relations and the Clearfield 911 Fund at $1,339,494 and $1,883,787, respectively.
In addition, Commissioner Mark B. McCracken noted the rising costs to the county due to the overpopulation at the Clearfield County Jail. He said it’s been an issue for the past two or three years but is now a constant issue every month.
Over the last year, he said the county has spent $90,000 to house inmates outside of Clearfield County. He said for the upcoming year, the warden had requested $100,000 to be allocated in the budget for out-of-county housing of inmates.
McCracken indicated the county has tentatively budgeted $75,000 with ideas to lower the costs of the out-of-county housing of inmates. Robinson-McMillen said fees have increased to house inmates at the Centre County Prison, and she’s found that it’s not as costly to house inmates in Jefferson County.
She said that the Jefferson County Prison has an expanded facility and space is available. She said the commissioners have instructed the jail warden to utilize the Jefferson County Prison, and they will look into the possibility of a contract.
McCracken said in order to address the overpopulation at the CCJ and to lower the associated costs it will take a coordinated effort on the part of court officials, the prison board members and the jail staff.
Both McCracken and Commissioner John A. Sobel said cash flow has started to become a problem since the commonwealth hasn’t passed a budget. McCracken said the commonwealth owes the county several hundred thousands of dollars, and it will impact the county moving forward.
McCracken said even if the state passes a budget within the next week or so, the county likely will not be recouped that funding for 45-90 days. Both McCracken and Sobel said the county will likely have to get a Tax Anticipation Note in order to cover expenses for the beginning of the upcoming year.
“It all goes back to there being no budget in Harrisburg,” said McCracken. “We don’t have the money that we normally would have in our account here.”
McCracken also noted that in the tentative budget, the county funded the DuBois Regional Airport in the amount of $70,000, which it’d previously committed to. He said airport officials had requested the county to commit $158,000 in 2016.
Sobel said the commissioners and the Controller’s Office have invested a lot of time into the tentative budget, and he intended to support the presentation of it. However, he emphasized that he was not in support of a tax increase of any kind.
Sobel urged his fellow commissioners and the Controller’s Office to continue to work hard to make budget cuts in order to present it for final approval without any tax increase.
Robinson-McMillen said they were all committed to “chipping away” over the next 20 days. McCracken indicated that the commissioners would have to make $530,000 worth of cuts in order to avoid a tax increase.
“It is a very tight budget. It is a very lean budget,” said Robinson-McMillen. “And, $530,000 is a lot of money when the budget is lean to begin with.”
The commissioners will present the 2016 budget for final approval at their regular meeting at 10 a.m. Dec. 22. It is currently available for public viewing on the Clearfield County Government Web site.
During the public comment, the commissioners heard from Clearfield resident Charles Lombardo regarding the county’s contractual relationship with Clearly Ahead Development. Lombardo claimed that the economic development corporation’s leader, Rob Swales, “wasn’t doing his job.”
Lombardo asked why the county should pay $160,000 when the commissioners do Swales’ job. He asked the commissioners to take it into consideration during their budget process.
Lombardo said the commissioners could hire and pay someone $40,000 to do the same job and save a pile of money. Robinson-McMillen clarified that the county makes a $160,000 contribution and it’s not Swales’ salary and goes toward covering the services provided by all Clearly Ahead staff members.
McCracken explained that the Clearfield County Economic Development Corp. (CCEDC), now known as Clearly Ahead, was created in the 1990’s to clean up the Harbison-Walker site. He said it wasn’t until 2005 that the CCEDC became the economic development entity for the county.
Sobel indicated there was one year left in the county’s contract with Clearly Ahead. He said it would be looked at with the lack of economic opportunities coupled with the high unemployment in the county.
He said the commissioners plan to address the matter next year. He compared it to having an athletic team. He said, “It is results driven. If you’re not winning, you get rid of the coach.”
At the same time, Sobel said that he wanted the new board of commissioners to meet with the Clearly Ahead staff members. “I want to give them a chance to defend themselves,” he said.
Clearfield resident Tony DeCasper pointed out that Swales was involved in an incident and pleaded guilty. He asked Robinson-McMillen, who sits on the Clearly Ahead board of directors, if she was arrested if she would keep her seat in the commissioners’ office.
Robinson-McMillen said she wasn’t sure, and it would likely depend on the seriousness of the charges. Controller Tony Scotto pointed out that one time a state representative faced charges for involvement in a physical altercation.
“Why would you pay $160,000 to Clearly Ahead, when Swales doesn’t do anything?” asked Lombardo. He asked if the commissioners have a 30- or 60-day out clause in their contract with Clearly Ahead.
Robinson-McMillen said that the commissioners had an out if there wasn’t funding available to pay their contribution. “There’s no state budget. What more reason do you need?” asked Lombardo.
McCracken advised Lombardo that it was among the first matters to be addressed by the new board. He said they planned to evaluate the results or lack of, explore and consider a replacement, etc.
McCracken said the new board would be committed to addressing the concerns regarding Clearly Ahead. He noted that he’s also voiced dissatisfaction with the economic development corporation.
“You’re taking $160,000 and throwing it away,” said Lombardo. “I’m really disappointed in all of you and the message you’re sending to our community. You’re not taking this seriously; you’re not doing anything.”
Robinson-McMillen said the commissioners have been taking the Clearly Ahead matters seriously. Scotto asked Lombardo and DeCasper if they have written letters to the Clearly Ahead board of directors.
“They have the power,” said Scotto. Lombardo said the commissioners had the power to remove the Clearly Ahead contract from their budget.