Zero tax increase in Wayne budget

DAVID HULSE
Posted 8/21/12

HONESDALE, PA — There is no tax rate increase in Wayne County’s proposed 2016 budget, business manager John Haggerty reported to the commissioners on November 19.

Haggerty said the …

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Zero tax increase in Wayne budget

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HONESDALE, PA — There is no tax rate increase in Wayne County’s proposed 2016 budget, business manager John Haggerty reported to the commissioners on November 19.

Haggerty said the balanced budget totals $30,971,776.68, covering general fund and debt service payments.

The budget shows an overall increase of $458,000 in revenues and expenditures, but includes no tax increase. Inter-governmental revenues shows a gain of $340,000, realized through additional funding in various state grants and programs. Corresponding expenditures offset this gain.

Net tax revenues are projected to increase $118,000 through inclusion of new tax assessments and collections from Wayne’s Tax Claim Bureau.

Any tax increase was avoided through the slight increase in revenues, and by applying 2015 savings from bond refunding, “while holding firm on expenditures,” Haggerty said.

Both Haggerty and Commissioners Chair Brian Smith thanked all of the elected officials and department heads for staying within budget and maintaining conservative requests for expenditures in their respective offices.

The budget is available for public inspection in the Wayne County Commissioners office during normal business hours, or can be viewed on the county website www.waynecountypa.gov. The Commissioners intend to adopt the 2016 budget on December 17.

In other business, the commissioners approved their application for a state Department of Environmental Protection 902 Recycling Performance Grant. The grant funds 90% of Wayne’s $111,905 worth of projects. Funding would include $49,200 for a food composting machine jointly acquired with the Western Wayne School District. Smith said if the experiment is successful, larger-scale food composting could be done.

Commissioners’ chief clerk Vicky Botjer announced that applications for the 2016 Tourism Grant Program are being accepted. The grants of up to $2,000 fund specific event advertising and are targeted for advertising out of Wayne County. Partnerships with other events or groups as well as partnerships with Wayne County attractions or lodging facilities are encouraged. Request packets, including documentation, should be returned to Botjer no later than Monday, December 28. Awards will be announced in February 2016. Call 570/253-5970 extension 4050, for more information.

Holiday closure schedules were also announced. County offices and courts will be closed on November 26 and 27, and December 25. There will be 2 p.m. closures on December 24 and 31.

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