MERCER COUNTY Officials OK initial budget

The county is expected to end this year about $700,000 in the red.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- Mercer County commissioners approved a preliminary 2002 budget that includes a $2 million tax increase.
The cost of operating county government next year is pegged at $18 million, compared with $16.1 million this year.
In 2001 millage figures, the tax increase would be 6 mills. But in 2002, because of a new way of calculating taxes, this will be a 2-mill increase. That's because commissioners last March changed the county property tax assessment ratio from 331/3 to 100 percent effective in 2002. This means that next year, 10 mills of tax will bring the county the same amount of money as 30 mills does this year.
Commissioners said Thursday that several factors have contributed to increasing revenue needs, as well as to an expected deficit of about $700,000 this year.
The big expense is a higher-than-anticipated cost of housing overflow prisoners from the county jail at other facilities, which has amounted to $1.1 million so far this year.
Additionally, the children and youth services budget came in about $300,000 over projections because of the difficulty estimating the number of children who will need services, Commissioner Olivia Lazor said.
No county employee layoffs are expected next year, commissioners said.
Dennis Lieb, a certified public accountant from Sharon, was hired on contract to prepare the 2002 budget after the recent resignation of Fiscal Director Jeff Swartzbeck.
Other matters: In other business, commissioners awarded a contract for exterior electrical lighting at the courthouse to one of the highest bidders.
Pic Electric, Farrell, was awarded the contract despite submitting the second-highest bid, $239,600, out of five bids received.
Other bidders included: Claw Inc., New Castle, $198,840; Arrow Electric Inc., Meadville, $226,400; Absolute Power Inc., West Middlesex, $237,000; and I.C. Electric, Sharpsville, $264,680. Commissioners gave no reason for their choice.
The electrical work is part of an extensive courthouse renovation.
Commissioners also authorized Mercer County Community Transit to advertise for bids for four handicapped-accessible, 12- passenger small transit buses. Transit Manager Bill Jones said federal grants will pay for the buses, which will replace four old vehicles.