Property taxes remain level again in the coming year as the County Commissioners offered up the 2021 proposed budget for review.
Millage was set for 2021 at 10 mills in General Real Estate for the county’s General Fund; and .33 mills for the Library Fund. The total millage rate for real estate taxes is 10.83 mills.
The commissioners also announced the county’s proposed 2021 budget, totaling $35,924,476.42 is available for the public to view in the lobby of the courthouse, and at the four public library branches.
The commissioners plan to adopt the final budget at the Dec. 9 meeting.
The salary board – comprised of the commissioners and county treasurer – set the health insurance deductibles for non-union employees and retirees for the coming year.
Effective Jan. 1, 2021, those affected will see increases to the costs of their health insurance plans. The contribution rate was set at 10 percent; with deductibles at $300 for singles, and $600 for a family plan. Prescription co-pays are also increasing for those enrolled on the county’s insurance with co-pays set at $10 for generics, $30 for formulary, and $50 for non-formulary.
Other co-pays were set at $20 for an office visit; $40 for a specialist visit; and $100 for an emergency room visit.
Commissioner Alan Hall said the county’s health insurance costs total about $3.5 million annually, paid from taxpayer dollars.
The county plans to separate the Planning and GIS department – which had been combined. Hall said a dedicated GIS department will be established and the county will be able to take advantage of a revenue stream that it has been missing out on with GIS.
In the commissioners’ meeting, the county will enter an agreement with the Progress Authority for application for the Redevelopment Assistance Project grant program, looking for $500,000 in grant funding to be utilized for the public safety building, currently under construction in New Milford Twp.
Roger Doolittle, of Choconut, was appointed to serve on the Susquehanna County Economic Development Advisory Committee, through August 2021.
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