Dec 11, 2013 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – Greene County commissioners are expected to adopt a no-tax increase 2014 general fund budget today.

The board also will set the millage for property taxes at the following rates: 6.77 mills going to the general fund; 0.695 mills for debt service; and 0.07 mills going to the library system.

The $17.7 million spending packages is $1.95 million more than the one passed for this year. The budget includes the projected impact fee payment of $1.5 million in July, while the 2013 budget contained about $1.1 million from the Act 13 funds.

It is expected that the entire impact fee, except $187,000, will be transferred out of the general fund and placed into the capital projects fund, so the county’s 2014 budget increase from 2013 to 2014 is about $660,000 or 4.2 percent.

Budget increases are due mainly to salaries and benefits. Union increases averaged about 5 percent; management increase were 2 percent plus raises; and the increase in medical coverage costs are expected to be at 2 percent.

However, the county has seen decreases in both utility costs (from equipment upgrades and reductions in county-owned properties), as well in the area of telecommunications as a result of expanding the phone system.

Also on the agenda for today is a host of appointments and reappointments to various board and authorities.

During a brief prison board meeting at the county jail, Warden Harry D. Gillispie gave an update on the construction status of the kitchen at the jail.

He said most of the project is on schedule, except for the gas and electric hookups. “Until Columbia Gas and West Penn Power get those utilities in place, we will be in a waiting pattern,” he said. However, the contractor is still hopeful the project will be completed by the end of this month or in early January, Gillispie said.