Clinton County 2024 Budget Vote and Student Poll Worker Recognition Highlighted at Thursday’s County Commissioner Meeting
By Emily Wright
LOCK HAVEN – During Thursday morning’s meeting of the Clinton County Board of Commissioners, 29 students from Central Mountain High School and one student from Sugar Valley Rural Charter School were given special recognition for their participation in the Student Poll Worker Program on election day.
Maria Boileau, Clinton County director of elections, spoke about how the Student Poll Worker Program works and also presented the students and CMHS Social Studies educator Haley Eisenhower to the Commissioners.
Boileau stated that this was the first year that the Student Poll Worker Program was implemented in Clinton County. To participate, student poll workers must be 17 years old, be in good standing, and hold letters of recommendation from their parents, teachers, and principals. “The students attend poll worker training sessions like all poll workers, and they did that in October,” Boileau explained. “On election day they perform duties that are expected of any poll worker.”
On November 7, there were 29 students from CMHS and one student from Sugar Valley Rural Charter School who participated in the program, performing over 400 hours of service in 18 of our 34 precincts.
Boileau acknowledged CMHS Social Studies Educator Haley Eisenhower for her efforts in coordinating the Student Poll Worker Program, stating, “A special shout out to Haley Eisenhower, who did a terrific job recruiting and monitoring our students’ progress, and today we ask them to come up to the front and be recognized by the commissioners for their service.”
Board chairman Miles Kessinger recognized Eisenhower and awarded her with a certificate for the work she’s done with the Student Poll Worker program, stating, “We the undersigned members of Clinton County Board of Elections hereby extend our deepest thanks to Haley Eisenhower, Central Mountain High School social studies educator at Keystone Central School District in Clinton County, Pennsylvania in grateful appreciation for her exemplary service in coordinating the student poll worker program for the November 27, 2023, general election. Signed by Judge Miller, myself, Donnie Powers, and Desiree Myers, who are members of the election board. Thank you.”
Another item on the agenda for the meeting was the call for the vote to adopt the Clinton County Budget Proposal for 2024. The proposal, which was published on the Clinton County Government website on November 16, received unanimous approval from county Commissioners during Thursday morning’s meeting.
The now-adopted County Budget includes a notable increase in real estate millage rates, which have remained at 0.0062 for the past three years in Clinton County.
Vice Chairman Jeff Snyder delivered the resolution, stating, “Resolution Number 21 of 2024 millage rate now, therefore, it be resolved that the commissioners of the county are setting the millage rate for 2024 at a rate of .0067 with budgeted tax income of $14,374,190.97, adopted this 14th day of December 2024.”
The Clinton County proposed 2024 Budget narrative states in part, “The 55.4 million-dollar 2024 Budget will see an increase in areas which include but are not limited to wages, retirement, contracts, and the county’s portion of funding Human Services. These adjustments align with our commitment to maintaining a suitable fund balance, enhancing County infrastructure, and mitigating the challenges posed by minimized post-pandemic revenues.
The narrative continues, explaining that a half-mill increase is “considered essential” for 2024 due to factors such as inflation, employee recruitment and retention, and maintaining a 10% General Fund balance reserve. The Chief Assessor estimates that the total property value for 2023 will generate about $13.3 million in real estate tax revenue in 2024.
