New commissioners to review 2016 county budget
The new Butler County commissioners will review the 2016 county budget passed by the former commissioners.
Last week, the former commissioners approved a $150.7 million budget with a total 27.6 mill property tax rate — which is a 3-mill tax increase. This tax increase was used to plug in a $4.4 million deficit.
This afternoon new Commissioner Leslie Osche, board chairman, said the commissioners have identified four priorities for the budget and the county’s operations to review.
The first one is cash flow. Near the end of 2015, the county was running out of money, and further had to deal with a state budget impasse — where legislators and Gov. Tom Wolf could not decide on a state budget for 2015-2016.
She said the commissioners will work with county Treasurer Diane Marburger and county Controller Ben Holland on budget issues.
A second priority is revenue confirmation, with Osche saying the commissioners and department heads will work to make sure departments’ projected budgets are more in line with their actual expenses. Osche said the commissioners themselves are committed to reducing their office’s operating expenses by $100,000.
Other priorities are restoring the county’s fund balance and restoring the county’s operating and capital reserves.
Osche said that after their review, the commissioners will decide whether or not to make any changes to the budget.
