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This is the time of the year when county units of government have their taxpayers cringing about prospects for a significantly higher tax bill to help finance the next fiscal calendar -- this time, 2025's.
It is reasonable to suggest that some Blair County taxpayers might have done a double-take when they read the Oct. 29 Mirror article reporting that their county commissioners had launched budget considerations for the coming fiscal year facing a projected $9 million shortfall.
"Blair County's budget requests for 2025 add up to $55.08 million, leaving commissioners to figure out how to whittle down a $9 million deficit in light of revenue projections at $46.08 million," the article begins.
However, later in the article it is reported that based on the numbers provided at an Oct. 28 commissioners meeting, Blair 2024 expenditures are projected, by the end of the year, to come in at $1.88 million less than budgeted.
It means that the $9 million deficit figure does not paint as ominous of a fiscal picture as the initial deficit amount seemed to indicate.
Nevertheless, the commissioners are facing a less-than-enviable reduction task as the days pass, drawing the budget-passage deadline ever closer. Cutting approximately $7 million is no "piece of cake" either.
Commissioner Amy Webster described the commissioners' budget challenge as scary, which was a correct assessment. However, units of government at all levels begin their annual budget-preparation exercise with such troubling information in front of them and, when their work is done, most times have the situation well under control, without the need for a tax increase.
Still, Blair's current facts and figures require a wait-and-see posture now from county residents as the commissioners dig more deeply into budget requests from the various county departments.
Those requests are much like what happens in union-company contract negotiations when both sides present their optimum hopes, knowing that the ultimate settlement usually will shake out as something less.
The 2025 initial deficit projection is higher than the initial deficit numbers of 2024 and 2023, which were $7.75 million and $8.39 million, respectively. Both of those deficits subsequently were reduced before the county's leaders turned to budget-balancing options, one of which was a 10.37% increase in real estate taxes for the current operational year.
Regarding the departmental requests for 2025, Webster voiced the viewpoint that, "we don't have the money for what everybody is requesting."
Still, increases in the cost of living affect everyone and, if the county hopes to keep its excellent, hard-working employees, leaders eventually are going to have to find a way to make higher pay a reality.
And, looking forward, challenges for the county government here abound, as detailed by the commissioners during their annual appearance in September before the Blair County Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Club.
Those who read the Mirror's Sept. 13 report dealing with that meeting might recall that the commissioners discussed several important issues with which they were dealing and now still are dealing, including the need to construct a new prison to replace the current 156-year-old facility that is considered beyond being able to renovate.
For Blair taxpayers, then, the best advice for now is to allow the commissioners to do their work, but pay attention, perhaps by attending a meeting, if possible.
The commissioners are not beyond being second-guessed regarding their spending and other decisions.