MIFFLINTOWN - Taxes will go up for residents of Juniata County in 2009 after the board of commissioners approved a final budget for the county Tuesday.
The 2009 budget, including a 1 mill increase, passed in a 2-1 vote with Commissioner Teresa O'Neal casting a "no" vote. The approved 22.75 millage rate is a 4.6 percent increase from 2008.
The budget includes $1.7 million for courthouse renovation and approximately 4 percent salary increases for county non-union employees.
"Truthfully, I can't support this motion," O'Neal said, previously. "This board continues to disregard areas that we could cut costs. This board has used no sound logic (with) business decisions."
During Tuesday's meeting, O'Neal said the county received a letter from the state Department of Public Welfare informing them that it cut $42,374 in funds for the Juniata Valley Tri-county Mental Health/Mental Retardation Program, which includes Juniata, Mifflin and Huntingdon counties.
"It's a significant amount of money," O'Neal said. "Their explanation was a decrease in tax revenue in Pennsylvania. It affects a very significant population ... that needs our help at all levels."
Chairman Jeffrey Zimmerman agreed with O'Neal. Referring to the state in a somewhat sarcastic tone, he said, "It's nice to be able to pull out the rug from under folks when the situation demands."
"If the state met its obligations to the counties ... the (Juniata County) budget would look much different than it does today," Zimmerman said previously.
The funding cut may mean the county will have to increase revenues or cut programs, O'Neal said.
However, some programs are mandated by the state and cannot be cut, Zimmerman said.
"This is just the start of what we are going to see," O'Neal said.
The 2009 millage increase will generate approximately $215,000 in revenue for the county, Zimmerman said.
The budget is available for public review on the Juniata County Web site at www.co.juniata.pa.us.
Also during the meeting, the commissioners:
Approved an Open Records Right to Know Policy.
"While I am asking for adoption today, (the policy) will be a work in progress," Zimmerman said. "I am confident that we have a good open records policy."
The policy along with a public records request form will be available on the county Web site, O'Neal said.
Previously the commissioners approved Administrator/Chief Clerk G. Sherlyn Mosebey as the county's open records officer.
Approved applications for county aid submitted by Tuscarora Township for $3,390.82 for future use, Fayette Township for $7,212.06 for future use and Turbett Township for $1,234.25 for future use.
Approved Community Service Block Grant contracts through the Human Services Department.
The Juniata County Commissioners hold weekly public meetings at 10 a.m. Tuesdays in the Bousum Building, Main Street, Mifflintown.
