2006 News

December 20 , 2006

Commissioners Announce No Tax Increase
Budget Adoption at Washington Crossing Historic Park

The Bucks County Commissioners announced a zero percent tax increase as they released the final 2007 operating budget today. The adopted budget now stands at $448 million, which amounts to a 4.4 percent budget-to-budget increase, according to Finance Director Brian Hessenthaler. The increase is offset by revenues, resulting in no tax increase in ’07 for Bucks County taxpayers.

“It was important to all three commissioners that we not spend a dollar more than is needed,” noted Commissioner Chairman Jim Cawley. “We knew we were on the right track with the proposed budget, but we also knew more could be done to contain costs. I thank Mr. Sanko and Mr. Hessenthaler for their hard work in reaching our long-stated goal of no tax increase for 2007.”

Hessenthaler points to three main areas where proposed expenditures were cut, in order to reduce the budget-to-budget increase. In Courts, $2.4 million was cut, $860,000 of which was pulled and more appropriately placed in bond capital. Additional capital projects were removed from the 2007 plan, cutting another $200,000.

At Neshaminy Manor, Hessenthaler notes the county was able to better forecast spending in 2007 with more concrete financial data in from this year’s actual year-to-date expenditures. Utilities were dropped by $85,000, outside consultants were reduced by $60,000 and medical supplies were pealed back from the proposed budget by $20,000.

In the Corrections arena, because the temporary facility to house the growing prison population won’t be in place until the second quarter of 2007, the 10 additional personnel will not be hired during the first quarter, thus saving salary and benefits for three months allowing a reduction from the proposed budget.

While the proposed budget called for an increase of $22.8 million, after scrutiny by the Finance Department, the chief operating officer, and ultimately the commissioners, the budget was scaled back to an increase of $18.7 million.

Chief Operating Officer David Sanko says the commissioners were intent on holding the line, and charged him and Hessenthaler with exploring additional ways to make more cuts without sacrificing the high quality services Bucks Countians deserve.

Included in those cost-saving initiatives are an energy audit, healthcare savings of $1.2 million, more consolidated purchasing, and the hiring of a grants coordinator who will concentrate on maximizing grant revenues for the county. Additionally, the BEST Committee recommended an asset manager starting in 2007, whose main charges will be capitalizing on county properties, and managing the county’s fleet to affect expenditure savings. There are currently a net of 15.5 new positions allocated in the ’07 final budget, 10 belonging in the Corrections arena. Another BEST recommendation that will reap savings is in the category of legal counsel. The county has begun using in-house resources for contract negotiations along with human resources, for example, thus saving on legal fees.

Hessenthaler notes that the largest portion of the county final operating budget, 50 percent is allocated to Health and Human Services, while Courts, Corrections and Emergency Services account for close to 25 percent.

The public can view the adopted 2007 budget by clicking here , and at the Levittown and Quakertown government service centers, as well as at the courthouse on the fifth floor, public information.