2011 News

December 7, 2011

Commissioners Conduct 2012 Preliminary Budget Public Hearing

On Tuesday, December 6, Bucks County Commissioners Charles H. Martin, chairman, Robert G. Loughery,  and Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, LCSW joined Chief Operating Officer Brian Hessenthaler and Director of Finance & Administration David Boscola to conduct a public hearing to discuss the proposed 2012 county budget.

Mr. Boscola explained that his staff continues to collaborate with all county departments to address a $24.2 million shortfall between revenues and expenditures. The proposed 2012 county budget is $471.3 million, almost half of which is devoted to the Human Services division.

“The biggest part of this (county government) operation is people,” Commissioner Loughery told the early evening audience in the Courthouse Community Room.

After Mr. Boscola completed a PowerPoint presentation (to view that information click here), the commissioners entertained a list of public suggestions to trim the $24.2 million shortfall. The board agreed to consider all recommendations for cost savings prior to the anticipated adoption of the 2011 budget – which is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, December 21 at the Bucks County Visitors Center in Bensalem. Unlike previous years, Mr. Boscola met with every county department head as part of the 2012 budget planning process.

For the last five years (2007-2011 budgets), the county millage rate has remained unchanged, at 21.942.

“I’d like to commend Dave (Boscola) and his staff,” Mr. Hessenthaler stated. “What was initially presented had a shortfall of $36 million – and we will continue to work on that [reducing the $24.2 million figure].” For an audio account of the 70-minute hearing, please visit www.BucksCounty.org.