Nov 19, 2015 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – The Greene County commissioners are expected to pass their 2016 budget next month that includes a slight increase in overall spending, but no tax increase for property owners.

The commissioners voted unanimously Thursday morning to advertise the $19.76 million general budget that is a 3.6 percent increase over the 2015 spending plan.

The budget maintains the current county property tax rate of 7.535 mills.

County Chief Clerk Jeff Marshall said previous budget hearings were held – the first time the county had done so in more than 10 years – to help keep spending relatively steady.

“I think everyone is trying to work within the revenue we receive,” Marshall said. “Very early on it was said that this is the revenue you will receive and let’s make it work. And that’s what we’re trying to do.”

He said the hearings served as a way to work with department directors to target the most important expenditures and what could remain on hold until later.

“The commissioners would love to fund everything their office heads have on their needs (list), but we asked them to put some things off until later years and live within their mean,” Marshall said.

The biggest increases were due to salaries and wages, Marshall said. County officials also expect to pay more for children and youth programs due to additional state background checks and four new staffers who are now working in those roles.

A change in the Community Development Block Grant funding, or CDBG, now funnels the state money through the county for distribution to Franklin and Cumberland townships and Waynesburg.

The overall spending plan, which includes the state’s Liquid Fuels tax allocation, 911 fund, CDBG and a variety of human services funds, will reach nearly $30 million next year – about a 3 percent increase over last year.

The public can review the entire budget online at www.co.greene.pa.us or at the county office building until Dec. 17, when the commissioners are expected to vote to approve the plan.

Also during the meeting, the commissioners agreed to allocate $5,000 to each of the 16 volunteer fire departments in Greene County.