SUNBURY – Northumberland County commissioners unanimously approved a 2016 budget with no additional tax increases. At a special meeting Tuesday, commissioners presented a $104.8 million budget that replaces the one created by the former board.
Commissioner Sam Schiccatano thanked the department heads who, he said, helped find ways to save money or put off spending. The prior county budget overestimated savings from a change in insurance plans that left a gap the commissioners had to fill.
Chairman Rick Shoch said shifting funds to different departments allowed them to add a new sheriff’s deputy, “It was originally a position that had been created by the last board that had not been filled yet that was in the prothonotary’s office to try and coordinate cost collections. In discussions with all departments, including the prothonotary, everybody kind of agreed that we would get more bang for our buck, if you will, by adding another sheriff’s deputy to help with this.”
Shoch says additional funding was allocated for the planning department. Some of the savings came from positions that will not be filled, such as the assistant solicitor, following retirement. Shoch said there will be a few cuts in county personnel, “There are going to be a few cuts in terms of personnel in areas where we feel there are redundancies, but it was very minimal.”
The general fund tax rate will not increase and the 2.1-mill increase for debt service remains the same in this new budget. (Jennifer Wakeman)
