No tax increase in county budget next year

By Frances Ruth Harris
MILFORD — The $1.1 million budget the Pike County Commissioners approved on Wednesday didn't look much different from the 2015 budget, or, for that matter, the 2014 budget.

Commissioners Matthew Osterberg, Richard Caridi and Karl Wagner said at a hearing continued from Dec. 2 that there will be no tax increase in 2016.

The motion to present the budget of 18.54 mills for twenty days was passed unanimously.

They will vote on the final budget at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 30.

The commissioners also weighed in on another budget — the governor's. They're angered that Gov. Wolf's budget veto will hurt safe havens for abuse victims, libraries, and agencies for the aging.

Caridi said the governor's decision to veto the entire state budget, rather than individual line items, left the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians at risk.

So far, no services have been cut in Pike County, although the library is seriously looking at a loan from its bank.

The county has $2.2 million in reserves, which provides some wiggle room against debt. The county has never had to take a loan, commissioners said.

The state runs with a $2.3 billion dollar deficit, commissioners noted.

They said they've never seen a situation like current one with the state budget. The problem in 2009 was bad, they said, but not nearly as bad as now.

The commissioners, all Republicans, blame the governor, a Democrat, and an extreme ideological divide in Harrisburg for the impasse.

"Who is he hurting?" asked Osterberg. "The least able to stand for any decreases in funds. He is hurting the least able among us."

Is there an end in sight for the budget dilemma?

December 25, they said. We know Santa is coming.