By LAURA JAMESON ljameson@lockhaven.com
LOCK HAVEN - The Clinton County Government's 2025 preliminary budget does not include a tax increase.
That was the announcement made during a budget presentation by Ed Zack, of Susquehanna Accounting Services, at Clinton County Board of Commissioners' voting session Thursday.
Prior to offering highlights of the proposed budget, Zack noted the bulk of the work completed for the budget was completed by the board and its staff.
"The main work for this budget is (the commissioners and chief clerk). I come here in the end and just pull it all together," he said.
According to Zack, the county's expected budget for 2025 is about $50.1 million. This is roughly $5.2 million less than the 2024 budget.
He explained the decrease is due to a $6.2 million grant received in 2024 for the on-going 9-1-1 radio tower upgrades currently taking place.
Another $5.5 million was re-budgeted into 2025, he said. The funding is to be used for HVAC system improvements at the Clinton County Courthouse and government offices along Piper Way.
A breakdown of the budget shows the General Fund for 2025 at $26,757,266, roughly 3 percent higher than the previous year.
Further breakdowns showcase that 28 percent of the proposed budget is made up of property taxes; another 20 percent is for intergovernmental costs; 41 percent is expenses, wages and benefits; and 11 percent is designated to capital projects.
According to Zack, wages and benefits have "pretty much flatlined."
He noted the board is currently looking at positions that are currently open and evaluating whether or not they should be filled.
"And they've started looking at positions that could be combined," he said.
Zack used the example of combining a Human Resource Director position into the Chief Clerk position.
"There was a human resource person in the office and they gave (Desiree Myers) most of those duties so they did not have to fill that position," he said.
Myers said the preliminary budget is available to view for 20 days at the county government building, 2 Piper Way, Lock Haven, and online at www.clintoncountypa.gov.
The board will consider adopting the budget during its Dec. 5 voting session.
In other business, the board:
- Approved the renewal of a one-year maintenance agreement with Beyond Trust Corporation for remote access software at a cost of $2,278.37 effective Jan. 1.
- Considered a proposal from Morefield Communication for Cisco Smartnet Renewal at a cost of $19,591.20 effective until Nov. 17, 2025.
- Approved an agreement between the county and Familylinks to provide placement and treatment of youth at a cost of $1,299.69 per day effective Nov. 4.
- Approved an agreement between the county and Hope's Haven Residential Services, LLC to provide placement and treatment of youth at a cost of $400 per day, effective Nov. 4.
- Approved subrecipient agreements for the 2023 Community Development Block Grant program, effective July 17 through July 16, 2028. Recipients included the Clinton County Redevelopment Authority ($50,000); and the Renovo Borough Water Authority ($145,739).
- Accepted the retirement of Kimberly Parker, clerk typist II/scanner in the Prothonotary Office, effective Dec. 31.
- Accepted the resignation of Travis Hillyer as part time dispatcher in the Department of Emergency Services, effective Nov. 6.
For more local news visit The Lock Haven Express Newspaper.
