2007 News

December 20, 2007

Commissioners Adopt Zero-Tax-Increase Final 2008 Budget

After several weeks of careful examination, the Board of Bucks County Commissioners yesterday adopted a 2008 budget that features no tax increase for the second year in a row, and without drawing on the general fund.  Following Finance Director Brian Hessenthaler’s presentation of the preliminary budget to the commissioners earlier this month, he was charged with reviewing ways in which a zero-tax-increase could be maintained without dipping into the general fund. 

The final budget was adopted with not only the general fund in tact, but actually with a net gain to it in the amount of approximately $700,000. Hessenthaler notes that the 2008 budget stands at $465.8 million, down from the preliminary budget of $466.4 million.  Areas in which the county was able to decrease the operating budget include a reduction in the amount of requested additional personnel, as well as a decrease to the court operating budget. This resulted in an amount more reflective of actual spending rates over the last several years.  Additionally, fringe benefits were able to be cut by approximately $1 million due to savvy investing that reaped better-than-predicted rewards.

In addition to adoption of next year’s budget, 17 departments were represented on yesterday’s agenda, including a contract with Neighborhood First Program.  JT Wells, of the Bristol-based program noted, it is an “intensive mentoring and monitoring program for at-risk children.” The after-school program provides tutoring, meals and YMCA activities to those children referred by the county’s Children and Youth and Juvenile Probation departments, as well as local schools, according to Wells. 

Commissioner-Chairman Sandra A. Miller told Wells, “You have a very successful program,” and wished him continued success.

Another highlight included an agreement of sale with Rohm and Haas Company for a 10-acre parcel in Bristol Township that will become the home of the new Lower Bucks Fire School/Public Safety Training Facility.   On November 2, the commissioners announced a letter of intent amidst a crowd of fire fighters at the site flanked by a fleet of emergency vehicles.  The fire school will serve to allow Lower Bucks fire fighters more time training and less time traveling to the current Doylestown location. Bob Hedden, chair of the Lower Bucks Fire School committee, called Wednesday “a great day for fire service in Bucks County.”

Once the resolutions under consideration were adopted, Commissioner James F. Cawley called for a $7,500 “stop gap” for the Lower Bucks Red Cross homeless shelter, which was notified it will not receive a state emergency shelter grant used to fund eight percent its operation.  Cawley pledged to work with state legislators to obtain more funding to enable the shelter, which houses up to 800 residents per day, to continue its services.

During Chief Operating Officer Dave Sanko’s report, kudos were offered to the county’s Finance Director and department heads for an outstanding job in sculpting a budget that offers all the high-quality services Bucks Countians expect, with no impact to their taxes. Sanko also reminded the board of the December 24 courthouse Christmas holiday program run by CERA, the County Employee Recreation Association. The program features a magician, a reading by Commissioner Cawley, and favorite holiday songs by the CERA choir. Finally, he noted that on January 7, the county will host an investiture and inauguration to swear in all recently elected judges, row officers and commissioners.

Before the meeting’s close, a special presentation was made following a discovery by John Dougherty, Emergency Management director, during renovations to his facility. Drawing a parallel between the Aug. 1955 flood and recent floods, Commissioner Cawley told of a plaque that was presented to volunteers who came out after the mid-50’s flood, and a unique historical connection to Commissioner Miller.  On the plaque reads the name of former majority and minority Commissioner Adolph A. Andrews, known to many as “Andy,” who is Miller’s uncle. On her second-to-last meeting as commissioner, she was presented a duplicate of the plaque.

Noting that during her 16-year tenure as county commissioner, Miller always displayed his oath on her wall, she told her fellow commissioners, “Thank you. This means quite a bit to me.”