Commissioners demand Library Association’s financial docs in order to receive tax funds

BY STACI WILSON
The Susquehanna County Commissioners set the 2023 tax rate – once again holding the line with no increase to property taxes in the coming year. County taxes include a rate of 10.5 mills for the general fund, and .33 mills for the Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Association.
However, the commissioners attached a caveat to the library funding in the coming year demanding the Association provide monthly financial documents to the county as requested, including account balances.
The motion to set the millage – with the demand – was unanimously approved by the commissioners at the Wednesday, Dec. 14 meeting.
The total millage rate for county taxpayers is 10.83 mills – including both the general fund and library assessed millage rates.
The commissioners also adopted the nearly $43.3 million dollar budget for the coming year.
In addition to setting the tax rate and budget adoption, the commissioners also made several appointments:
*Jason Miller, of Harford, and Dawn Augenti, of Montrose, were reappointed to the Susquehanna County Historical Society & Free Library Association board of directors, effective Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2023;
*John Kukowski, of Susquehanna, to the County Planning Commissioner, effective Jan. 1, 2023 – Dec. 31, 2026.
The commissioners also accepted, with regret, the resignation of Katherine Shelly, from the Planning Commission, effective Dec. 31. Commissioner Elizabeth Arnold offered thanks to Shelly for her years of service on the Planning Commission;
*Jerry Cronk, of Montrose, was reappointed for a four-year term, Jan. 1, 2023 – Dec. 31, 2027, to the Susquehanna County Housing Authority Board of Directors;
*William Shay, of Thompson, was appointed as a Farmer Director to the Susquehanna County Conservation Board, effective Jan. 1, 2023 – Dec. 31, 2026. The appointment of Shay replaces a previous appointment made by the commissioners;
* and Mike Faillace, Loren Stone and Ronald Cieslak were reappointed to the Susquehanna County Economic Development Advisory Board, effective Jan. 1, 2023 – Dec. 31, 2026.
The commissioners also increased the hours of Assistant Public Defender Jair Novajosky to 25 per week, with the attorney’s salary to increase proportionally, effective Jan. 1, 2023.
Another elected official in the county is leaving office. County Auditor Richard Suraci’s resignation from his position, effective Dec. 31, was accepted by the commissioners, with regret. Other elected officials who left their positions this year include Jason Miller, who resigned as county treasurer to take a job in the private sector, and Michelle Estabrook, from the register/recorder’s post after a criminal charge was lodged against her by the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General.