County Budget Discussion with our Legislator, Irene Weiser

There is no way to sugar-coat this.  It’s going to be a tough County budget year, with a double-digit tax increase looking likely. Federal and State cutbacks are increasing County costs for mandated programs, while inflation continues to drive up expenses, especially health insurance. At the same time, revenues are down, including weaker sales tax receipts.

There is another important factor. In the years following COVID, the County used its “savings account,” (formally called the unassigned fund balance), to help keep taxes under the tax cap. Since COVID, we have drawn down more than $12 million from savings. We now need to begin rebuilding those reserves while keeping up with current costs.