Participants in Thursday’s meeting of the Bradford County Commissioners included (above, from left) chief clerk Michelle Shedden and commissioners Doug McLinko, Daryl Miller and Ed Bustin.
Photo and Story by Rick Hiduk
The Bradford County Commissioners commended department heads for helping to bring the proposed 2018 budget in at a half million dollars less than last year, despite a slight increase in wages and health insurance premiums and a number of big projects on tap. For at least the seventh year in a row, no tax increases will be needed to keep the county’s spending at approximately $74,980,000.
Commissioner Doug McLinko also thanked chief clerk Michelle Shedden and fiscal coordinator Mike Soprano for coordinating the document, which will be advertised for public review and likely adopted at the Dec. 14 meeting. The county tax rate is expected to stand at 10.43 mils. The cost of living increase for employees ranges from 2 to 2.5 percent, including contracted employees. Health insurance went up about 2.9 percent but will be absorbed by the budget with no additional cost to employees.
“We have a healthy general fund – without the impact fee,” McLinko stated, noting also that, by participating in a health insurance coop, the county maintains a surplus with that account as well.
It was clear that the commissioners wanted to discuss details of a number of infrastructure projects planned in the coming years but were unable to until the final budget is approved. Nonetheless, they were happy to note that six or seven bridges will be addressed in the next two years due to the county’s leverage at bundling them into a single contract.
“By bundling them, we’re getting a heck of a savings,” McLinko remarked. “With 52 bridges in the county, you can imagine how important that is.” Approximately $6 million has been set aside for bridge work over the next two years, which does include some impact fee funds. Bridges have been highly impacted by the gas industry, McLinko noted.
“You need to be economically viable and competitive,” Commissioner Daryl Miller added. Whereas Bradford County has historically repaired or replaced a bridge about every three years, four have received attention in the past six years as state funds became available.
The more proactive bundling approach will bring crews, equipment, and materials into the county that can be employed for projects simultaneously or contiguously. A preliminary list of targeted bridges will be released after the budget is passed and will likely include the replacement of the Pratts Mill Road bridge near Canton.
Additional good news is on the way, hinted Commissioner Ed Bustin. “As the budget rolls out, we’ll be able to talk more about some of those projects,” he stated. “We have some big infrastructure projects coming down the pike.”
Plans are proceeding on schedule for the new 911 center to be constructed in North Towanda Township, which will also be funded by impact fees. It is the frugal use and investment of those funds, McLinko maintained, that will allow the county to get ahead of infrastructure issues, like bridge maintenance, without burdening the taxpayers or taking on debt.
An infrastructure deficiency that should get some much-needed attention next year is that of radio, cellular and internet transmission. The commissioners approved a letter on Nov. 8 to Appalachian Regional Commission certifying a $500,000 match for an equal amount of money for the Bradford County Broadband Infrastructure Project.
A million dollars will be available to fund the study and partial implementation for the first of three fiber-optic loops planned to help fill transmission gaps in rural and mountainous regions of the county. Loop 1 will run from Towanda to Troy, through Wells Township to Sayre and Athens and back to Towanda.
There will be no commissioners meeting on Nov. 23 due to the Thanksgiving holiday. The final two commissioners meetings of 2017 will be held on Thursdays, Dec. 14 and 28. Commissioners Miller and Bustin declared Dec. 14 Ugly Sweater Day at the courthouse.