Westmoreland County tax hike, first in 15 years, on the table

Westmoreland County commissioners could vote Thursday to hike property taxes for the first time in 15 years.

Commissioners Gina Cerilli and Charles Anderson said Tuesday they have yet to commit to the proposed 2.4% tax hike as part of a finance package that includes adoption of a 2020 budget and a proposal to borrow money to fund government operations for the first part of next year.

The tax hike proposal appeared on a preliminary agenda circulated ahead of the commissioners final voting meeting this week.

The suggested tax hike would increase the county’s millage rate by 0.5 mills, from 20.99, where it has been since 2005, to 21.49. Officials said the move would generate about $1.9 million in new revenue next year.

“If it is something we have to do, I will support it. But anything can happen by Thursday,” Cerilli said.

Commissioners and their finance department continue crafting the 2020 budget and are looking for potential cuts that would make a tax increase unnecessary. A preliminary $339 million spending plan pitched last month included no tax increase. It carried a $9.3 million deficit that would be offset by using most of a $12.8 million surplus fund. That would reduce the county’s safety net account to $3.5 million by the end of next year.

Anderson, a Republican who is retiring at the end of the month, said that initial budget proposal, along with a revised plan, is a work in progress. He said that he is open to a tax increase if it is deemed necessary.

“We haven’t raised taxes in 15 years and, in 15 years, the price of everything has gone up,” Anderson said.

Commissioner Ted Kopas, a three-term Democrat who was defeated last month in his reelection bid, was not at the courthouse Tuesday and did not return a call seeking comment. Kopas’ term expires Jan. 6, giving him a vote on the 2020 budget and the setting of next year’s tax rate.

Incoming Republican commissioners Sean Kertes and Doug Chew, along with Democrat Cerilli, will make up the board next year. They can reopen and make changes to the budget in January as well as set a new tax rate.

Chew said Tuesday he opposes the tax hike proposal.

“I am going to work as hard as possible to uncover every dime and look for ways to cut the budget. I will vote to rescind this tax increase,” Chew said.

Kertes, who is Anderson’s chief of staff, said he supports reopening the budget next year but conceded that the county’s financial outlook heading into 2020 is troubling and a consensus budget and tax proposal by the current board has been hard to reach.

“Hopefully, when we reopen the budget, we can see what we can change or modify. I’d like to rescind it, but I don’t know what our options are. Our backs are up against the wall until the new board has a strategy,” Kertes said.