Eliminated debt service decreases county tax bills

BY STACI WILSON

With the county debt paid off, taxpayers will see a reduction in their 2012 tax bills.

The commissioners voted, Wednesday, Nov. 23, to eliminate the 1.01 mills which had been assessed for debt service.

General real estate millage holds at the 2011 10.5 level with .33 mills going to the library fund bringing the total county millage for 2012 to 10.83 mills.

Commissioners Michael Giangrieco and MaryAnn Warren said preliminary numbers indicate the county’s proposed 2012 total budget is down by about $300,000 from the current year.

The proposed budget hits the table for public review in December.

Renovations to theChenango St., Montrose, property acquired by the county in 2009 are nearly complete.

The commissioners still are not saying which departments will be moving into the new space.Warrensaid not all the parties involved have been notified of the move.

She did, however, indicate thatChenango St.space would make a “nice home for two departments.”

The commissioners voted to ratify the termination of Marcia Borosh, from the Drug & Alcohol department, effective end of day, Nov. 18.

Darlene Sheridan, who was serving in a part-time position in the Register and Recorder’s office, was hired by Register & Recorder Mary Evans as the Third Deputy Recorder of Deeds, effective Nov. 14.

The commissioners signed an agreement with EGroup, LLC to assist the county with the Hazard Mitigation Grant program at $125 per hour plus expenses. No cap on hours or expenses was placed by the commissioners.

Susan Adamec and Rev. Margaret McCarty were reappointed by the commissioners to a two-year term on the Lackawanna-Susquehanna Behavioral Health, Intellectual Disabilities, Early Intervention Program Advisory Board, beginning Jan. 1, 2012.

The following people were reappointed to the Susquehanna County Conservation District Board of Directors: Jean Castrogiovanni and Raymond Warriner – both to three-year terms as Farmer Directors, effective Jan.1, 2012; and MaryAnn Warren, to a one-year term as Commissioner Director, also effective Jan. 1, 2012.

The 2012 miscellaneous compensation schedule was approved by the salary board.

The salary board also approved an increase of work hours for the office manager in the Public Defender’s office, from 37.5 to 40 hours per week, per the request of Public Defender Linda LaBarbera, effective Nov. 23.