Amended budget including increase in taxes approved by county commissioners
SOMERSET ― Commissioners approved by a 2-1 vote Tuesday the 2024 amended budget with a 1.75-mill increase in taxes for Somerset County property owners.
The amended budget of $61,332,151, is a $573,728 increase from the $60,758,423 budget that was approved in December by the former commissioners. The total millage for 2024 now is 15.11, with 13.01 dedicated to general fund and 2.10 dedicated to debt service. Republican chairman and vice chairman Brian Fochtman and Irvin Kimmel Jr. favored the budget. Democrat Pamela Tokar-Ickes voted against it.
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Somerset County Treasurer Tony DeLuca released a report the assessment and treasurer's offices made with the breakdown of the tax increase.
Total number of property parcels in the county that are taxable is 58,639. For the 17,380 property parcels with more than a $30,000 assessed value, the tax will be $52.50 for $30,000; for 11,557 parcels with more than a $40,000 assessed value, the tax will be $70 for $40,000; for the 7,871 parcels more than $100,000 assessed value, the tax is $175 for $100,000. Out of 58,639 taxable parcels, only 7,871 will see a $175 or more annual increase, the report said. The majority will see less than a $52.50 annual increase. The report said 50% of the taxpayers will see $30 or less of an annual increase.
Fochtman read a statement on behalf of himself and Kimmel that said: "As Irv and I stated during our campaign, we would work with our treasurer to invest our money where it would make the most return. We did this at the very beginning of being on the Commissioners Board. Unfortunately, interest on this investment is not something we should rely on for our operating budget, as this revenue can fluctuate."
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Fochtman said a 45-day timeline set by the state factored into the vote being taken so soon after he and Kimmel took office. He said they met with various department heads to discuss costs that are needed as opposed to wanted, and "in some instances, this was the first time many of them felt they had a say in some of the costs."
The previous budget did not include an increase in employees' salaries. Fochtman said depleting the budget reserves would make it unsafe for an emergency situation.
"This is not called a balanced budget; this is a deficit," he said.
DeLuca said the county reserves are $3 million, but he said the county should carry $10 million in reserve. He said with the $3 million, the county would have enough money to cover four weeks of operation if needed. DeLuca pointed out there won't be any money coming into the county until April.
Fochtman said they have begun researching other revenue sources and hope that results can be reflected in future budgets.
"I know there are lots of opinions regarding our decisions made today, but rest assured we have spoken to many people in their professional duties to come to our decisions," he said.
Fochtman said some homeowners qualify for exemptions that could lower their property taxes: if they are 65 or older, widow or widower 50 years old and older, or 18 or older and disabled, they may qualify for the property tax/rent rebate. The Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion can help farmers. He recommended they contact the assessment office to see if they are eligible for the Clean and Green program.
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Fochtman said it has been determined that Somerset is one of the lowest 10 counties in the state for property taxes, with other counties also having to raise taxes.
"I think it has just come to the point that we have all run on empty, and many of us were left with little to no option in an election year to make some tough decisions," he said. "We have made the decisions voted on today with the best interest of everyone at heart and for what we believe is the betterment of the county, and we have already begun working for you and laying the groundwork to find ways to bring more revenue and options to the county."
Community input
Members of the community weighed in before the vote was taken.
Brian Keller said he moved to Somerset County a year ago and is very happy living here. Using a farming analogy, he said farmers don't go to a dry well to get more water from the well. He said the economy is in a dry time now and taxes shouldn't be raised until the economy is in better shape.
Kim Ohler told the commissioners that her mother is in a nursing home, but she can't afford to keep her there and will be bringing her mother home to care for her. She said she wants accountability for the taxes on paper showing what each department is getting under this tax raise.
Guy Berkebile told the commissioners no matter what they do, somebody isn't going to be happy.
"If you do nothing you are going to be blamed. Some of the people are still working on pre-COVID salaries," he said. "Something needs to be done for people on pre-COVID salaries."
Clark Romesburg said people are having trouble paying credit card debt and auto loans. He said residents should have a seat at the bargaining table because they are the ones who are going to be hurting because of the tax increases.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Somerset County Commissioners approve amended budget with tax increase
