County Government Proposes 2023 Budget Without Tax Increase

The Bucks County Commissioners don’t plan to raise taxes in 2023, according to the proposed budget released Wednesday afternoon.

The county government, which employs more than 2,000 people and has offices and facilities across the entire county, plans to spend $457.5 million in 2023. The proposed spending plan is 3.8 percent smaller than 2022’s budget.

The budget, the final one before all three commissioners are up for reelection, comes with no proposed tax increase. It is also buoyed by federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.

The commissioners – two Democrats and one Republican – control the purse for county government departments, nine elected row offices, and the courts system.

The commissioners will review the proposed spending plan over the next few weeks and expect to hold a public hearing on the budget.

At their Wednesday, December 21 meeting, the commissioners plan to vote on the 2023 final budget.

A review of the $457.5 million proposed spending plan shows the commissioners and law department taking small budget decreases, 4.4 percent more spending among row offices, 1.2 percent in additional spending in the courts, a 2.6 percent jump in corrections costs, human services spending will rise .6 percent, there will be a drop in bridge reconstruction funding, a $860,000 jump in parks special projects spending, a 7.4 percent rise in emergency services department costs, and a 2 percent drop in health department spending.

County debt service payments are expected to drop by 12 percent in 2023.

The county expects a .9 percent increase in real estate tax revenue and a total of $72.5 million in new American Rescue Plan Act revenues.

The county plans to end 2022 with $51.7 million in the general fund, which is more than $2 million more than expected at the start of the year, according to Bucks County Chief Financial Officer David Boscola. Those funds will roll over into the new year.

“Our administration is pleased to be able to present a budget to Bucks County residents for a third straight year with no proposed tax increase,” said Bucks County Commissioner Chairperson Bob Harvie, a Democrat. “While we continue to navigate a post-pandemic world, this budget moves us forward as a county in 2023, even reducing operating expenses by $18 million from the previous year.” 

“This administration continues to take its stewardship of your taxpayer dollars very seriously. Clearly, many Bucks County families have had to make tough choices and cut costs over the past few years and we’re no exception. We will take a similar approach with this budget, while still providing the same high-level of services you’ve come to expect,” said Commissioner Vice Chairperson Diane Ellis-Marseglia, a Democrat.

Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo, a Republican, said: “Having a balanced budget should be the goal of any responsible government. I’m a firm believer that government works best when it works together, so I’m glad we are on track to produce a budget with no tax increase in 2023 for the people of Bucks County.” 

County officials noted in a statement they are starting the new year with positive bond ratings reaffirmed by two of the largest rating agencies.

“With critical revenues from ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act), and with debt obligations decreasing for the first time since 2018, we are projected to vastly exceed our policy of maintaining a 10 percent budget reserve, hopefully securing our AAA bond rating,” Boscola said.

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