Potential for tax increase
But Cameron County finances 'looking better'
By James Moate Endeavor News

Jeff Weiss from Susquehanna Group Advisors presents an overview of the Early Intervention Program at Tuesday's meeting of the Cameron County Commissioners. Susquehanna was retained to assist the county with long-term financial planning. James Moate photo

Cameron County property owners may be hit with a modest tax increase next year, but no final decisions have been reached.

Finances were the main topic of discussion at Tuesday's meeting of the Cameron County Board of Commissioners. At the same time the board is working on the county's 2008 budget, members are also conferring with financial consultants.

Jeff Weiss, president of Susquehanna Group Advisors, said Tuesday that the county's financial picture is "looking promising." Susquehanna has analyzed county finances and met with many county officials to get a clearer picture of staffing needs and other factors.

It's part of the state's Early Intervention Program (EIP), a rescue mission to keep counties solvent amid mounting economic challenges. Jefferson and Lawrence are among other Pennsylvania counties that have called in EIP experts.

"One of the biggest things is keeping up with your bills," Weiss said Tuesday. "Before we got involved, Cameron County was behind several months on its bills. That causes interest to generate and then the county owes even more."

The county is receiving a $565,000 injection from the sale of Memorial Hall Recreation Center in Emporium to the Cameron County Industrial Development Authority. The county's lease payments will be used to pay off a loan being taken by IDA.

Cameron County has also receive a threefold increase of "in lieu of taxes" payments for state-owned forest and game lands. For many years, that payment was $61,600, based on 154,000 acres of state-owned land at 40 cents per acre. The state now pays $1.20 per acre, or about $185,000.

Additional steps that could be taken in the future to alleviate the county's financial woes include selling or leasing countyowned property or increasing taxes to pay for debt service.

"I don't think we'll be raising taxes too much," said Commissioner Glenn Fiebig.

Phil Scrimenti, a government policy specialist from the governor's office, commended the commissioners for using the EIP. The program's long-term planning approach is invaluable in this era of tight finances for county governments, Scrimenti said.

"It will also help the new commissioners coming in by providing them with a road map," he added.

Fiebig is the lone incumbent returning to the board for a four-year term that starts in January. He'll be joined by JoAnn Smith and Phil Jones. Incumbents Tony Moscato and Patrick Rodgers opted not to run for re-election.