Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Bucks County’s preliminary $400.9 spending plan for 2016 includes no tax increase.
The preliminary budget was revealed to the public the day before Thanksgiving at the Administration Building in Doylestown. The 2016 budget plan was presented by Bucks County Commissioners Robert Loughery, Chaley Martin and Diane Ellis-Marseglia, along with Chief Operating Officer Brian Hessenthaler and Director of Finance and Administration David Boscola.
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Next year’s budget is expected to devote $228.9 million (47 percent) to Bucks County’s health and human services departments with public safety departments taking $144.4 million (29 percent.) The county plans to spend $42 million to pay down old debt and add a $111,400 to surplus.
The proposed budget marks a 1.8 percent spending increase over 2015’s budget.
“The current budget cycle marks the third consecutive preliminary budget that contains a surplus,” Boscola stated. “Strict cost containment measures put in place since 2012 continue to put the County in a much stronger position than in previous budget cycles.”
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For 2015, the county is tracking below their budged totals. A reserve fund of $50 million will be replenished once the state budget impasse ends and the county will be paid back for temporarily helping support programs that are usually funded by Harrisburg.
“The budget process continues to be a challenge every year due to the economic times we are in. Although economic indicators are beginning to show an overall recovery, we in the government sector usually do not feel the impact of that uptick for a year to two years,” Hessenthaler said. “I would like to commend everyone involved with the preparation of this budget, particularly the Finance Department.”
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Last week, the county learned its AAA bond rating had been reaffirmed by Moody’s Investors Service and Standard and Poor’s.
A public budget meeting will take place Wednesday, December 2 at 6 p.m. in the Administration Building Community Room on the first floor. The 2016 budget is slated to be voted for adoption on Wednesday, December 16, at 10 a.m. during the Bucks County Commissioners’ Meeting at the Visit Bucks County center on Street Road in Bensalem.
