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The Lycoming County Commissioners voted to certify the 2027 tax rolls at their meeting this week.
The breakdown is as follows: taxable parcels, 52,013 with an assessment of $5,810,855,750; exempt parcels, 2,220 with an assessment of $1,076,878,900; total parcels - 54,233 with an assessment of $6,887,734,650.
When Commissioner Scott Metzger commented that it was a lot of parcels and a lot of money, Brooke Wright, chief county assessor replied, "But we're still losing money with the exemptions."
Related to the financial state of the county, Commissioner Marc Sortman shared that the budgeting process is in its final days for next year's budget and they are "very, very happy."
"I think we're getting to where we need to be to again this year have a very well-planned and balanced county budget," Sortman said.
"We spoke the other night with the township supervisors' meeting-you know, township level, borough level, city level, they have to have balanced budgets. I don't know why when you go to county and state and federal we decide you don't have to balance it, but the three of us here and our staff, our controller's office, our treasurer's office are all driving to continue to have balanced budgets in Lycoming County," he said.
The 2027 budget has to be passed by the end of this year.
During the informational portion of the meeting, Brian Ferry, of the county's planning and community development department announced that the county is updating the Lycoming County Comprehensive Recreation, Parks, Open Space and Greenways Plan.
The plan was last completed in 2008.
Updating the plan will facilitate the development and enhancement of recreation facilities, parks, open space, and greenways throughout the county for the next decade and more.
As part of this update, the County is conducting a public survey to receive feedback on the existing recreation infrastructure and the programs and activities residents participate in with the aim of identifying key community needs, establishing priorities for potential funding opportunities and providing a clear roadmap for future decision-making and investment.
"This survey is designed to help understand the current state of the parks and recreation throughout the county and to help identify the wants and needs of residents, stakeholders and anyone involved in the community in Lycoming County," Ferry said.
The survey will be used in combination with stakeholder interviews and steering committee meetings to develop a new plan to guide future recreation, parks, open space and greenways development in the county, according to a news release from Ferry's department.
The public survey and outreach initiatives will be taking place through the month of November. To participate in the survey go to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/92S2CSS
It was also announced that the a public hearing will be held at 6 p.m., Nov. 17, for the commissioners to review and discuss the proposed amendment to the county's zoning ordinance to address data centers and data center accessory uses in order to establish clear guidelines, definitions and performance standards for their development and operation.
The hearing will be held in the Commissioners' Board Room, 3rd floor, Third Street Plaza, 33 West Third St.
The full text of the ordinance proposal is available at the county's Planning Commission Office or on the county's website.
In other actions, the commissioners approved: the purchase of tracks for the DOZ-30 from CAT in the amount of $26,140, to be paid out of Resource Management's capital expenses budget; an agreement with GEO Reentry Services for the period of 1/1/27 through 12/31/2031 to be paid out of operating expenses; the DCNR Grant amendment for the Comprehensive Recreation, Park, Open Space and Greenway Plan; the 2026/2027 Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) grant application to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency in the amount of $735,000; the support renewal with Mitel for all the Mitel phone systems in the amount of $15,481 to be paid out of operating expenses; an agreement with Comcast for the Transfer Station phone and internet service to be paid out of operating expenses; and an agreement with Brant Legal Nurse Consultants, LLC for the Public Defender's Office to be paid out of operating expenses.
The board approved three 2027 liquid fuels grant awards. They are: Hughesville Borough, Cemetery Street Project, $50,000; Loyalsock Township, Starr Road, Road Construction Project, $75,000; Moreland Township, Church Drive Road Construction Project, $25,000.
Under personnel, the board approved the following new hires:Michelle Brown and Toriann Shoemaker, full-time telecommunicator trainees in the Public Safety department's communications center., $20 per hour.
In an internal change Brenton Pfleegor, is now the full-time learning & development coordinator, in the Public Safety's communications center at $24.93 per hour.
The next commissioners' meeting will be at 10 a.m., Nov. 12 in the Commissioners' Board Room, 3rd floor Third Street Plaza, 33 West Third St.