Buckingham and Cumberland counties are set to have public hearings relating to budget and tax items.

The public hearing for Buckingham County’s proposed operating budget and proposed tax levies for the fiscal year beginning July 1 will take place Monday, April 15, beginning approximately 6:15 p.m. at the Buckingham County Administration Office, 13360 W. James Anderson Highway.

Cumberland is set to hold its public hearing on its proposed budget estimates Tuesday, April 2, 7 p.m. at the Cumberland County Courthouse, 1 Courthouse Circle.

The hearing in Cumberland will also focus on the proposed tax levies and the 5-year Capital Improvement Program.

BUCKINGHAM

Buckingham County’s proposed operating budget for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-2020 is estimated to total approximately $55 million, an increase from approximately $50 million from the FY 2018-2019 budget.

Tax levies remain the same for FY 2019-2020 compared with FY 2018-2019. The rates account for every $100 of valuation. This includes projecting 55 cents of real estate tax; 55 cents for public service corporation; $4.05 for State Corporation Commission (SCC) personal property tax; $4.05 personal property tax; $2.90 for machinery tools tax; $1 for merchants capital tax and 55 cents for air craft tax.

Among the changes estimated for the FY 2019-2020 budget is a projected increase of approximately $50,000 for personal property tax revenue.

Buckingham County Administrator Rebecca Carter said the projection was determined by values of vehicles and collection history.

There are no tax increases proposed for the budget, but Carter said residents may potentially see an increased tax bill if they have purchased more expensive vehicles.

Another difference includes an increase in sewer services from more than $500,000 during FY 2018-2019 to $1.7 million for the proposed FY 2019-2020 budget.

Carter said the cost is due to a new sewer construction project at Sprouse’s Corner.

Carter said the project is not being paid through general funds. Rather, enterprise reserves would fund the project. Carter said the county would not take on additional debt to pay for the construction.

“The project is to have sewer connections to all four corners of Sprouse’s Corner for economic development purposes and the water and sewer fund is an enterprise,” Carter said.

Carter said bids for the project are estimated to come to the Buckingham Board of Supervisors between three to six months. The cost of the project is estimated to be around $1.5 million.

Expenses for the E-911 / Information Technology fund is estimated to increase to $675,907 for the projected operating budget, versus $343,770 during the FY 2018-2019 budget.

Carter said this increase resulted in part from a $267,863 grant to upgrade the enhanced 911 system. Carter said the funds also include salary adjustments, travel and education money for the county E-911 manager.

“In the technology department we have added money for an upgrade of our countywide computer system in the amount of $46,000 a few other lines items have minor change(s) to meet the needs of that department,” Carter said.

Carter said a proposed decrease in expenses for solid waste/cycling proposed at $755,536 versus $807,125 the previous FY is due to the county anticipating saving money due to closing down any un-gated waste sites.

CUMBERLAND

The total proposed budget for Cumberland County for FY 2019-2020 is estimated to be approximately $34 million, an approximately $1.5 million increase from the FY 2018-2019 budget of approximately $32.5 million.

Tax levies for Cumberland’s FY 2019-2020 budget remain the same from the previous FY’s budget. The rates account for every $100 of valuation. The tax levies include 78 cents for real estate and manufacturing homes tax; $4.50 of personal property tax; $4.50 personal property tax – emergency services; 1 cent for personal property tax – disabled veterans; 50 cents airplanes tax; $3.75 for machinery and tools tax; $3.75 for heavy construction material tax and 78 cents for public service corporations tax.

Comments from members of Cumberland County administration were not available before press time.

The proposed FY 2019-2020 budget indicates a proposed rise in general property tax revenue estimates at $1,145,500 in FY 2019-2020 versus $1,097,600 in FY 2018-2019.

The category other local taxes, according to the proposed budget estimates, indicates an increase of $92,900 at FY 2019 -2020 versus $84,600 in FY 2018-2019.

The category revenue from use of money & property indicates an increase of $93,500 in FY 2019-2020 versus $55,000 in FY 2018-2019.

The category charges for service indicates an increase of $823,160 in FY 2019 -2020 versus $266,360 in FY 2018-2019.

The category total social services fund indicates an increase at approximately $1.6 million in FY 2019-2020 versus approximately $1.4 million in FY 2018-2019.

There is an estimated lowering of miscellaneous revenue for FY 2019-2020 at approximately $1.1 million versus approximately $1.6 million in FY 2018-2019.

Among expenditures, the proposed FY 2019-2020 indicates an increase of general government administration expenditure estimates at approximately $1.74 million compared with approximately $1.62 million in FY 2018-2019.

Expenditures for Judicial Administration are estimated at $533,568 for the proposed FY 2019-2020 budget compared with $540,428 for the FY 2018-2019 budget.

Expenditures for public safety are estimated for approximately $3.22 million in FY 2019-2020 in place of approximately $2.96 million for FY 2018-2019.

This article has been corrected from its original version.