COUNTY REAL ESTATE TAXES HOLD
By James Moate

Cameron budget: $7.4M

Endeavor News

Cameron County's budget is prepared and poised for final approval on Dec. 31.

An additional allotment of $123,000 "in lieu of taxes" for state-owned land has helped the Cameron County Commissioners freeze real estate taxes for 2008. That check from the state tripled in 2007 after the legislature upped the annual payments from 40 cents to $1.20 per acre.

Commissioners Tony Moscato, Glen Fiebig and Pat Rodgers tentatively approved the county's $7.4 million operating budget for 2008 at Monday's meeting and are scheduled to give it final approval at 10 am Monday, Dec. 31.

Moscato said the county is on track with its finances.

"We're leaving the new board of commissioners with only 30 days of accounts payable and a functional account," Moscato added.

In another matter, Gwin, Dobson & Foreman Inc. was approved to assist the Driftwood Borough to repair its water system, using $40,000 in a Community Development Block Grant originally designated for roof repairs at the Driftwood Senior Center. An engineer from that firm will be present to assist borough workers with the installation of new equipment.

The commissioners also:

• approved an agreement for multi-county responsibility for the Industrial Technological Education Center (ITEC) in Ridgway. Under the plan, Cameron, Elk and Jefferson counties would be responsible for operations and expenditures of ITEC, while Potter, Clearfield and McKean counties would no longer be involved.

• were notified by the Pa. Fish & Boat Commission of an Adopt-a-Stream fish habitat improvement project that will be taking place in the Hunts Run area.

• accepted a bid from Citizens Trust Company to provide a tax anticipation loan of up to $350,000 if needed, at an interest rate of 4.5 percent

• agreed to allow the Pa. Lumber Heritage Region to continue to be headquartered at the courthouse.

• announced that an office at the courthouse will be renovated to accommodate the victim/witness program.

Potter budget: $6.75M

Potter County's 2008 operating budget of about $6.75 million is scheduled for adoption by Commissioners Ken Wingo, Cathy Bowers and John Torok during a special meeting at 11 am Thursday, Dec. 27.

Although the budget includes a nine-percent increase in expenses, the county's real estate tax will hold steady. This is due, in part, to an increase in state payments in lieu of taxes for forest, game and park land. Those annual payments, starting this year, went from about $120,000 to $360,000.

That helps to offset higher operating expenses at the county jail, which may reach the $1 million mark next year; an additional $50,000 for Potter County Human Services; higher wages and benefit expenses for county employees; and a $200,000 allotment to operate the new Gunzburger Annex in the former Coudersport Elementary School.

The new board of county commissioners takes office on Jan. 7 and has the option of reopening the 2008 budget and adjusting the allotments.