Commissioners adopt $36M 2021 budget

The Susquehanna County Commissioners adopted a nearly $36 million 2021 county budget at the Wednesday, Dec. 9, meeting.

The budget, which totals $35,924,476.72, continues to hold the line on taxes, with no increase to property owners in the county.

In addition to the budget, the commissioners also made several appointments at the meeting:

Carol Carpenter and Rick Ainey were reappointed as trustees to the Susquehanna County Historical Society and Library Board of Directors, effective Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2021;

William Bayne and Douglas Wood were reappointed as public directors to the Susquehanna County Conservation Board, effective Jan. 1, 2021 – Dec. 31, 2024.

The commissioners also acknowledged, with regret, the retirement of Mark Shelp from the position of warden at the Susquehanna County Correctional Facility, effective January 2021.

Approval was also granted for the payment of $8,726.92 from the CARES County Relief fund to Trehab, which is paid to local small businesses for business assistance.

Several change orders for the public safety building, currently under construction in New Milford Twp., were also approved by the commissioners, and paid with CARES County Relief funds:

*$29,415.97 to Pennsylvania Mechanical Systems for furnishing and installation of ductless heat/fans and ionization devices; and $16,066.62 for the ionization devices and sensors in Building B; as well as a trench drain at Building C.

Sealed bids were opened for General Excavating in regard to bridge maintenance, bridge repair, bridge restoration, dam maintenance, dam restoration, and other county-related project as determined. Six bids were received and will be reviewed and awards announced at the Dec. 23 meeting.

The commissioners also held a special meeting on Wednesday to determine the salary increases for the elected positions of sheriff and the protonotary/clerk of courts. Both positions will be on the ballot in 2021.

For the years 2022 and 2023, a salary increase of 3 percent for each year was approved; and for the years 2024 and 2025, a salary increase of 4.25 percent for each year was approved.

The commissioners also set the rate for tax collectors for the years 2022-25 at the current rate of $4 per tax bill, collected or uncollected.