A view of the county and administrative offices in Doylestown.
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
Spending is up in the 2017 proposed Bucks County budget, according to figures released this week.
Although costs are up to $415 million, a 3.1 percent increase over 2016’s budget, the county commissioners are not planning to raise taxes.
Bucks County Director of Finance and Administration David Boscola said the proposed budget continues to be a work-in-progress and will continue to be fine tuned by the commissioners, administration, courts and row offices.
“The 2017 budget cycle has been the most challenging since 2012, a year when the County faced a preliminary deficit of $24 million,” Boscola said. “We continue to try and close the gap between revenues and increasing expenditures.”
The upcoming year marks the 10th time in 11 years that the county property taxes will not rise, Commissioners Chairman Robert Loughery said.
“We knew over the past few years that this 2017 budget would be our most challenging since 2012,” Loughery said. “This is why we diligently took measures in previous budgets to prepare for these increased expenditures by increasing our surplus nearly $10 million over the last five years.”
The health and human services in the budget account for the largest chunk – about 47 percent or $245.3 million – with public safety departments accounting for the second largest portion – 29 percent or $148.3 million. The county is expected to pay a little more than $45 million in debt service payments next year.
Bucks County officials are proud the proposed budget will carry forward a nearly $53 million general fund balance into 2017.
The public can review the budget by clicking here and can offer their opinion at a budget meeting at the Bucks County Administration Building Commissioners’ Meeting Room at 55 East Court Street in Doylestown at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 22.
The commissioners are expected to make their final vote on the budget on their Wednesday, December 7 meeting in Doylestown.
