Lycoming County commissioners wrap up 2023 with marathon meeting focused on reassessment, Arctaris investment proposal

In what was called a "marathon meeting" lasting three hours, the Lycoming County Commissioners approved the 2024 budget, an agreement with the investment company Arctaris and a county-wide reassessment.

Not all the commissioners were in agreement as Chairman Scott Metzger voted against reassessment, reiterating his opinion that now was not the time to do the process because of the possible economic impact on county residents.

"Timing is everything, everything in life. I hear the arguments for reassessment. I agree with a lot of the arguments, but I can't see reassessment at this time due to the economy. People are hurting so bad right now. Interest rates are out of control. Inflation really hasn't come down that much," Metzger said.

The last meeting of the year, which was also the final meeting for Commissioners Tony Mussare and Rick Mirabito as neither had sought reelection, was filled with kudos for the work they had done during their time on the board, from constituents and from Reps. Joe Hamm, R-Hepburn Township, and Jamie Flick, R-South Williamsport.

There was also discontent expressed by some area residents about the issue of reassessment, fearing that their taxes will increase.

"I don't care what side of the political aisle anybody is on. Your bills are up. Now we're gonna look at a reassessment. Guess what everybody else has to do? We've got to tighten the belt up. We can't reassess our job. We can't reassess what business we have and say, 'Well, I need another 20 or 30% more money, I'll just vote it in.' We can't do that," said Rick Houser, of Loyalsock Township.

"This is a real hardship, gentlemen. I'm going to say to you seriously, with this reassessment situation, this needs to be voted down today. This needs to be pushed over to next year," he added.

Both Mirabito and Mussare explained that the reassessment would not absolutely mean that real estate taxes would increase, but that it was a way to make them more equitable.

"This to me is not about taxation, it's about leveling the playing field," Mussare said.

Earlier in the meeting, the commissioners acting as the Board of Assessment Revisions approved lowering taxes for LeClerc Foods USA, by $11,541 because of the common level ratio being used, which is from the last time there was a countywide reassessment in 2004.

Referring to that action, Mussare said, "This is not level because their value is now 50% less than what it should be and we're going to allow that to happen."

"We better make sure these people are paying their fair share," Mussare said, arguing for the reassessment.

"We went through it at the last meeting that multiple businesses have come in. I calculated that in five years, they're going to cut half a million dollars out of county revenue," Mirabito said.

"Even if we try to scrimp and save, it's very difficult to try to not spend revenue when the price of oil goes up, when everything goes up, even if we're level spending. We're not raising taxes. Right? So there are two different issues, but it's really about an issue of equity," Mirabito said.

The vote on the county participating in the proposal from the investment group Arctaris Impact Investors LLC was less riddled with conflict as all the commissioners agreed to the plan which had been presented earlier this year.

Arctaris had offered to invest $20 million of their own funds into projects within the Federal Opportunity Zones in Williamsport.

The county, First Community Foundation of Pennsylvania, the city and the Chamber of Commerce are all committing $1.25 million each, which will result in $25 million in capital investment.

Although Metzger had been hesitant about the county providing the funds, which will come from Act. 13 funds, he said that he has since changed his initial reaction to the offer from the group.

"What can we do to put restrictions on them? How can we make this work for everybody?" he said. "So, the restrictions are no low-income housing. That will be written in the document. If they want to bring in market rate housing, we welcome that. Our two main areas are housing and childcare."

The commissioners tried to put to rest a rumor that constructing an abortion clinic was part of the group's plans.

"This money has to be spent in accordance with federal law because it's the federal tax opportunities. So the concern that had been expressed before about an abortion clinic or casino, or whatever, they can't just spend it any way they want. There's restriction in the federal statute as to how they can invest this money," Mirabito said.

The other big action item approved was the county's 2024 budget of $1.72 million in expenditures and $1.23 million in revenue.

According to Eric Endresen, director of budget and finance, the difference will be made up for the savings that the county had in fund balances.

There is no tax increase in the budget so the millage for the county remains at 6.5 mills.

The next commissioners' meeting will be at 10 a.m. Jan. 4 in the Commissioners' Board Room, first floor Executive Plaza, 330 Pine St.