Commissioners start budget review
HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair County commissioners have started reviewing departmental budget requests in their efforts toward building what will become the county's 2025 budget.
In their first of a series of budget-focused sessions, commissioners on Tuesday reviewed projections submitted by four offices including court administration, assessment, sheriff and social services. Then on Wednesday, they reviewed budget numbers and requests from the county emergency management agency, 911 Center, facilities, airport and finance/purchasing office.
Further departmental reviews are scheduled through Oct. 24, followed by additional meetings aimed at reaching a 2025 budget that will be introduced in November for approval in December.
A year ago, commissioners reviewed 2024 budget figures, then adopted a $48.7 million spending plan that was balanced with a 10.37% increase in real estate taxes and $3.35 million from reserve funds.
Among the departments reviewed Tuesday, court administration asked for $2.48 million in 2025 — an increase over its 2024 budget of $1.06 million — partly because it wants to change how the county pays court-appointed attorneys who are becoming hard to hire.
President Judge Wade A. Kagarise explained to commissioners that the county currently pays stipends to court-appointed attorneys to handle adult and juvenile criminal cases when conflicts arise that prohibit the public defender's office from handling those cases.
But local attorneys are turning down work in Blair County and accepting appointments in neighboring counties that pay more.
Kagarise is proposing that the county pay hourly rates — with the 2025 budget showing a project cost of $763,875. While the judge told commissioners he could probably lower that "worst-case-scenario" projection by $250,000 he stood by his recommendation of making the change that he says will pay off in getting cases moving faster through the criminal justice system.
Kagarise also told commissioners that he has already tried talking with attorneys who aren't accepting Blair County cases. He said those attorneys are telling him: "Then you should fund us the same as Bedford or Cambria."
Commissioners also reviewed budget requests from the county's assessment office, showing $563,000 to buy a computerized software program for the county's property assessment records.
Chief Assessor Deanna Heichel described the county's current program as obsolete and told commissioners the proposed program is "so much more modern, so much more user-friendly."
Commissioners questioned if money in the county's technology fund could cover a portion of the cost. In response to a question from Commissioner Dave Kessling about using American Rescue Plan Act dollars toward the purchase, Finance Director Lindsay Dempsie said that might be possible.
The commissioners also heard Sheriff Jim Ott ask for two replacement cruisers, totaling $120,000, in his office's effort to keep its fleet updated and to keep down maintenance costs. Commissioner Amy Webster said she would oppose the vehicle purchases because maintenance can be handled by the county's mechanic.
The sheriff also asked for 20 bulletproof vests at a cost of $36,000, with Ott explaining that his office currently has an additional eight vests that are newer and not due for replacement.
The county's social services department offered information showing the county's budgeted contribution toward its programs increasing very slightly, from $383,716 in 2024 to a projected $384,452 for 2025. That department also relies on grants and fee revenue to operate programs to provide property repairs and for blight demolition.
Wednesday's review included financial information, provided by Public Safety Director Mark Taylor, showing revenue projections from fee changes generating a projected $3.33 million in revenue for the 911 Center that will exceed the $2.89 million in expenses — thereby needing no general fund support.
Kessling asked Taylor about staffing levels and Taylor said the 911 Center currently has eight trainees who will be considered for current vacancies. Taylor also said he continues to regularly recruit personnel.
"I just keep telling people we need help," he said.
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.
