Commissioners hold tax rate steady
WAYNESBURG – Greene County taxpayers will enjoy an early Christmas present as long as the commissioners don’t alter the 2014 budget by the time its adopted Dec. 12.
The $17.7 million spending plan was approved Thursday, holding millage steady at 7.535, with 6.77 mills going to the general fund; 0.695 mills to pay for bond issues; and 0.07 mills going to the library system.
The budget is $1.95 million more than the one passed for 2013. It includes the projected impact fee payment of $1.5 million in July, while the 2013 budget contained about $1.1 million from the Act 13 funds.
Budget increases are due mainly to salaries and benefits. Union increase averaged about 5 percent; management increase were 2 percent plus raises and the increase in medical coveage costs are expected to be at 2 percent.
One of the major expenditure categories is law and order, which includes a host of departments, mostly court-related. The county expects to spend $6,269,272.53.
The total budget comes to $27,414,905.56. Within that figure are state and federal monies, which for budget reasons, are considered in-and-out items. They include $1,120,000 in liquid fuels funds, $309,000 for the 911 fund, $217,813 in CDBG grants, $580,000 for domestic relations, $210,000 for the tourism fund, $2,396,819 for children and youth, $384,403 for drug and alcohol, $2,167,257 for human services programs/transportation and $2,305,013 for mental health.
The commissioners approved $5,000 grants to the following volunteer fire companies: Bobtown/Dunkard, Carmichaels/Cumberland, Center, Clarksville, Crucible, Graysville, Greensboro, Jefferson, Morris, Mt. Morris, Nemacolin, New Freeport, Rices Landing, Richhill, Wayne and Waynesburg/Franklin Township.
The commissioners also made several appointments to various boards.
Pam Blaker was appointed to the assessment appeals board, Wayne Hart to the Community Action Southwest board of directors, and Tom Headlee, Greg Hopkins and Commissioner Archie Trader to the Conservation District board of directors.