Venango County commissioners have given final approval to the county’s 2024 budget that does not call for a tax hike for the 10th straight year.
The panel, during its final meeting of the year Tuesday, also heard from representatives of the Oil Region Library Association who requested funding of the county’s library system.
And outgoing commissioner Mike Dulaney was honored for his four years of service on the panel. Dulaney was attending his last meeting as he chose not to seek re-election to a second term.
Diona Brick, the county’s chief financial officer, said “the budget is largely the same as it was presented in November. The total has not changed.”
Brick added that “there have been shifts in some line items and some reallocation of state and federal money. This is thanks to the officials and department heads for tightening their belts and holding the line.”
Total revenues for 2024 are projected to be $65,454,599, an increase of 5% from this year, according to a budget handout from the county.
Total expenses for next year are projected to be $77,587,182, an increase of 18.9% from this year’s expenses.
The hike in expenses includes a 23% jump in health insurance for county employees, the commissioners said.
County employees’ salaries will go up slightly in 2024, Brick said in November.
A total of $2,867,110 from the county’s operating reserve fund will be used to balance the 2024 general fund budget.
The general fund budget, excluding Human Services, is projected to be $21,305,295, about 27% of the entire budget expenses.
About 55% of the general fund budget is funded through tax revenues, which are budgeted at $11,895,000 for 2024.
In other business at Tuesday’s meeting, Dan Flaherty, the executive director of the Oil Region Library Association, urged the commissioners to fund the county-wide library system.
In his plea for funding, Flaherty noted the resources the libraries at Oil City, Franklin and Cooperstown provide, which he said go way beyond books.
“We sell tickets for community events, host non-profit organizations’ regular meetings, act as a safe/secure meeting site for family services and other community groups, host free GED classes regularly and much more,” Flaherty added. “We continue to face directly down the barrel of budget cuts or non-funding.”
Flaherty also said that “if trends continue, and this is where increased urgency comes in, more people and organizations will continue to rely upon library services while the libraries will increasingly have to cut back on valuable services and community accommodations. Staff, public hours, programs and collections will be reduced.”
Members of the Oil Region Library Association board of directors also attended the meeting, and some of them also spoke passionately on behalf of the local libraries.
Board member Judy Etzel proposed the county levy a tax to fund the library association. She likened the county funding the public libraries in Venango County to funding the county park or county airport.
Several members of the board noted the benefits of libraries to society in promoting education, literacy and being a welcoming place for all people.
They also voiced frustrations with the county commissioners, both the current board and previous boards, saying they feel that for many years their requests for funding haven’t been answered by the county and the conversation has went nowhere.
Commissioner Sam Breene responded by saying repeatedly that he wants to schedule meetings with the library association over the course of the coming year and see what ways the county can support the local libraries, noting that “both sides need to be open to different ideas.”
Also Tuesday, Dulaney led the meeting at the request of Breene, who is the chairman of the commissioners.
At the end of the meeting, several people, including Breene and Commissioner Albert Abramovic, thanked Dulaney for his work, and Dulaney received a standing ovation from those gathered.
“Sitting with you the past four years has been an honor,” Abramovic said to Dulaney.
“When we first started four years ago, I didn’t know you very well. As I got to know you, I have gained so much respect for your work ethic, your mind… and your steady leadership…. I think I have made a friend for life,” Breene said to Dulaney.
“I have enjoyed every minute with you two,” Dulaney said to Abramovic and Breene. “I think Ken (Bryan, the incoming Republican commissioner) will do an amazing job. He really cares….I have been very humbled and honored to have this opportunity for four years.”
As to future plans, Dulaney said he intends to take some time off. He added that as as far longer term plans, he is still making up his mind and is “in talks with several organizations.”
