Court allows rise in Mercer taxes

The sale of three county-owned lots was approved.
BY MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- Mercer County commissioners have been given permission by common pleas court judges to levy new millage over the legal limit.
Next year's rate could be as high as 14.5 mills in the final budget which commissioners will adopt Dec. 27. The rate now is 10.7 mills.
The expected increase involves 2 additional mills for the general operating fund and 15/8 mills for debt retirement.
Comparisons between this year's and next year's millage are confusing because commissioners have changed the property tax assessment ratio for 2002 from 331/3 to 100 percent.
This means that next year, 10 mills of tax will bring the county the same amount of money as 30 mills does this year.
A mill is one dollar for every $1,000 property value.
Commissioners needed the judges' permission because the law prohibits the ratio change from bringing in more than 5 percent more revenue the first year.
The 32-mill total would increase to 43.5 mills next year.
Supportive: Commissioner Gene Brenneman said the judges were supportive of the tax increase and every row officer was there supporting it.
Commissioners have said the tax increase is necessary because the cost of housing the overflow of prisoners from the county jail at other facilities has exceeded the budget allotment by more than $1 million and the number of children being served by children and youth services has increased beyond expectations.
Properties sold: Commmissioners have approved the sale of three county-owned properties in Farrell for $100 each to Community Homebuyers Inc., a nonprofit corporation. They are lots at 223 Fruit Ave., 340 Wallis Ave., and 401 Wallis Ave.
The organization plans to build homes for the handicapped. Brenneman said the county has owned the properties since 1981 and that the sale returns them to the tax rolls and benefits the community.
Commissioners also approved contracts for mental retardation respite services with George Boko of Sharon and Glenda Shafer of Tionesta at $10 per hour.
They renewed a contract with Woodring Detective Bureau for one year for security services at the Domestic Relations Office at an hourly rate of $13.20.
Grievances: They agreed to meet in January with Charles Rice, regional vice president of the United Steelworkers of America, about pending employee grievances which were not identified because they are under consideration.
Rice attended the meeting to question commissioners about mediation vs. arbitration for the grievances.
The USW represents workers in maintenance, housekeeping, tax assessment, the treasurer's office and E-911.
Commissioners accepted the retirement of James Bennington, director of registration and election. They hired Lezlie Somerset as part-time clerk at $8.95 hourly, Kelley Rich as clerk at $9.58 hourly and Amy Jo Rodgers as part-time administrative assistant at $9.99 hourly.