`‘Tight’ budget nips 1/4-mill from 2000 tax bills, board says`

By Hal Johnson
Herald Writer

For the typical taxpayer in Mercer County, a cut of one-quarter of a mill in taxes probably will mean they can keep a couple of dollars in their pockets next year. Nevertheless, it’s a tax cut. Mercer County commissioners Thursday adopted a $15,770,983 budget for 2000 and set property taxes at 30.5 mills. Millage in 1999 was set at 30.75.

When state and federal funding and other funding sources are added in, county offices, departments and agencies are budgeted to receive $39,637,321 in the coming year.

Last month, county commissioners introduced a similar budget with no increase or decrease in taxes. Since last month, 1999 revenues were added up and officials found they were getting $116,000 more in revenues than they originally projected, said Jeff Swartzbeck, county director of financial services. Much of that comes from two grants for the county Conservation District and two grants for Juvenile Probation, he said.

Also helping the bottom line, expenses in the final budget are $116,000 less than originally expected, Swartzbeck said.

The 30.5 mills break down as 27.5 mills for general use, 2 mills to pay off 1992 and 1994 bond issues, and 1 mill for capital expenses.

The county judges granted commissioners permission to exceed the 25-mill limit for general purposes by up to five mills, Swartzbeck said. The county exceeded the ceiling by 3.5 mills to cover general purposes and capital expenses.

A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value; assessments are one-third of a property’s 1970 market value. At 30.5 mills, a property assessed at $10,000 would carry a tax bill of $305.

Despite the windfalls, commissioners say it’s a tight budget. The county’s expected to have $145,000 left at the end of 2000, compared to more than $1 million in past years.

Commissioner Richard R. Stevenson described the budget as “stringent and very tight,” but one that was “workable and accurate.” He commended department heads for controlling costs in their requests.

Commissioner Olivia M. Lazor tipped her hat in particular to Mark Benedetto, director of Juvenile Probation, and Beverly A. Burrows, director of Children and Youth Services.

“They have to spend money based on what happens in society,” Mrs. Lazor said. That’s not easy to project in a tight budget, but they will need to continue their diligence in the coming year, she said.

Budgeting is a team effort by elected office holders and department heads, not just the commissioners, she said.

“Each and every elected office and department came in at or below budget,” said Commissioner Cloyd E. “Gene” Brenneman.

Brenneman cited the detailed, 400-page 2000 Program Budget, containing budget details and statistics about the county as budget planners’ “Bible.” Brenneman said it was the second year for the publication, which is available to the public.

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