Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Bucks County is still working to fill a roughly $12 million budget gap for next year.
As part of the preliminary budget released this week, the $467.4 million spending plan shows a roughly 3.3 percent increase in expenses and the budget gap, which needs to be filled by the time the plan is approved.
Advertisements
County officials will continue to took at cutting spending, but a deficit could be filled by dipping into the general fund or raising taxes, or a mix of both.
“No decision has been made on whether a tax increase will be considered to balance the budget,” officials said in a statement.
Last year, the county had a roughly $16 million deficit at this time. In the end, the commissioners voted 2-1 to raise taxes. This year’s budget is the first that will be passed under the new Democratic majority.
Advertisements
Over the months, county departments have worked down their budget requests. Initially, the requests totaled more than a $21 million over expected revenue, said Bucks County Chief Operating Officer Margaret McKevitt, who took the job earlier this year, and Chief Financial Officer David Boscola, who has overseen previous county budget cycles.
“Staff will continue to assess the preliminary budget and make recommendations to reduce the operating deficit,” McKevitt said. “This is a difficult task each year as the county’s level of service increases and funding streams to offset the need decrease.”
Advertisements
Boscola explained that the preliminary 2021 deficit was spurred in part by expected increases in pay and benefits in staff, debt service increases, and unfunded state and federal mandates.
The proposed county budget showed the largest amount of spending is for health, housing, and human services at 48.9 percent and public safety taking up 26.6 percent.
The preliminary budget shows an expected revenue increase of 2.3 percent throughout courts, agencies, and row offices, but it shows tax revenue decreasing by .6 percent.
Advertisements
Spending in 2020 included $109 million that was unbudgeted due to the pandemic. The funds were provided to the county through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and have to be spent on COVID-19-related expenses by the end of the year. The federal relief cannot be used to fill budget gaps.
The county’s general fund is expected to have a balance of $30.9 million going into 2021.
Advertisements
The budget is scheduled to be voted on by the commissioners on Wednesday, December 16.
Report a correction via email | Editorial standards and policies
