County taxes unchanged in preliminary 2022 budget

LOCK HAVEN – The Clinton County Commissioners have unveiled a preliminary 2022 budget and real estate taxes will remain unchanged for the second year in a row. The action was unanimously approved by the commissioners at their voting session on Thursday. Board chairman Miles Kessinger said final adoption is scheduled for Dec. 30 and no changes are anticipated.

The budget amounts to $43.9 million, compared to $41.3 million for 2021. Commissioner Jeff Snyder called the document “fiscally responsible during difficult and trying times.” He said the increase in the budget was due to a number of factors, including higher wages, health benefits, contracts funding human services and county infrastructure. He said there is a decrease in incoming COVID-related revenue and the county is still able to maintain its 10 percent general fund reserve balance.

Snyder made a point to say that for the first time in five years the county saw better than a 1% increase in the assessed value of property. He said real estate taxes will produce $13.05 million in 2022.

Thursday’s action means the county real estate millage will remain at 6.2 mills. The county has had only one real estate tax increase since 2016. That came in 2019 for the 2020 fiscal year, the figure going from 6.0 to the current 6.2 mills.

County budget consultant Ed Zack from Susquehanna Accounting and Consulting Solutions said the county correctional facility at $6.9 million and children and youth services at $6.3 million are the largest expenditures among county departments.