Final budget set for Franklin County [Public Opinion, Chambersburg, Pa.]

Dec. 17--Franklin County's final budget holds the line on real estate taxes while giving employees a 3 percent raise.

County commissioners on Thursday approved a 2012 spending plan that takes $6.2 million from reserves to balance the $46.9 million general fund budget. Local tax dollars fund most of the general fund. The county is to end 2012 with a reserve of $10 million.

The total budget of $121.8 million includes federal and state dollars for mandated human service programs.

Improvements to the courthouse complex downtown are estimated at $1.8 million in the budget. Bids are to be opened Tuesday. Construction is proposed for the courthouse, courthouse annex and former junior firehouse.

The former Harmon's Furniture building on North Main Street is to be demolished. The county needs space for a fifth county court and judge.

Commissioners also set up savings accounts to pay for major capital projects ($1 million) and the replacement of equipment ($1.3 million) in future years.

"We will be challenged for the next several years," Commissioner David Keller said. "I know we will persevere and provide the best service in the confines of a balanced budget."

"The future is not necessarily bright" as the state and federal governments cut spending, Commissioner Robert Thomas said. "It is incumbent on us to maintain maximum efficiencies."

County administrators pared down department requests for 42 new positions in 2012 to just 27 -- 19 full-time and

eight part time. The plan cut $4 million from original department requests.

The staff additions and some equipment purchases will require an extra vote by commissioners in 2012. Funding for them is in a $1.4 million contingency fund.

Local tax dollars are to pay for 16 of the additional employees -- nine full-time employees and seven part time -- including a driving-under the-influence officer for adult probation, an archivist, deputy court administrator, a Drug Task Force detective, Department of Emergency Services life safety technician, GIS technician and eight Sheriff's Department employees to secure the changed court operations (three full-time deputies, one part-time deputy and four part-time security officers).

Support from the General Fund to the Falling Spring Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is expected to be $1.17 million in 2012, up from $713,000 in 2011. The county's share of the 911 dispatch center jumps from $1.6 million to $2.3 million, largely because of a project improving radio coverage for first responders.

The county will stay up-to-date on its pension plan payments.

The budget anticipates a 60 percent hike (about a $50-per-person increase) in premiums for unemployment compensation as a result of high unemployment, a $100,000 hike in workers' compensation premiums driven by two major cases and $130,000 more for its share of employees' health insurance.

County employees will pay on average 2 percent hike more health insurance as the county switches to a health reimbursement arrangement through Capital Blue Cross.

The budget is available at the commissioners' office on Chambersburg'sMemorial Square. An executive summary is available at http://www.co. franklin.pa.us.

------

Jim Hook can be reached at 717-262-4759 and [email protected].

Franklin County taxes

Each mill of Franklin County real estate tax generates $1.37 million for the county's budget.

A person whose home is assessed as if its market value is $150,000 will pay about $479 in county real estate tax in 2012, the amount as in 2011. The county tax rate of 25.95 mills ($479 on the $150,000 home) breaks down as follows:

- General Fund -- 22.55 mills ($416)

- Debt Service -- 2.6 mills ($48)

- Library -- 0.8 mills ($15).

___

(c)2011 the Public Opinion (Chambersburg, Pa.)

Visit the Public Opinion (Chambersburg, Pa.) at www.publicopiniononline.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services