Highland Officials Face $1 Million Deficit In FY26 County Budget
When T.S Elliot wrote “April is the cruelest month,” he had no idea most Highland County officials would nod in agreement come budget season.
Faced with a $1 million dollar deficit, the Highland County Board of Supervisors on April 1st reluctantly voted to publicly advertise a proposed 12-cent increase in the county’s property tax rate for fiscal year 2025-2026.
Before casting the 3 to O vote, County Administrator Jerri Botkin stressed for everyone in the room that this vote was only for the advertisement of the proposed rate, not the actual vote to set the rate.
Board Vice Chair Paul Tribble indicated he was not pleased with the proposed 27 percent tax hike, saying “It’s not going to fly.”
But Board Chair Harry Sponaugle said the board should approve the advertisement of the proposed increase, noting, “Then we can go from there.”
Go from there is just what the board will do after holding a public hearing at 6 p.m. on April 21st in the Highland High School gymnasium. The location was selected in case a large contingent of voters show up to air their views.
Now, the direction the supervisors go is still undetermined. They can increase the property tax, currently at 44 cents per $100 assessed value, to 56 cents, or start cutting proposed departmental budget requests.
Another avenue the board can take is to transfer all or a portion of the projected cash shortfall from the county’s estimated $5.5 million General Fund. This would help eliminate or lower the proposed 12-cent tax rate increase.
With the current 44-cent property tax rate, the county generated more than $3.7 million in revenue last fiscal year. If the proposed 56-cent tax rate is passed, the county could see that amount increase to more than $4.7 million, closing that expected $1 million shortfall.
Board members went with the 56-cent tax rate for advertising purposes only. By doing so, they are in line with state law that allows passing a lower rate than advertised, but not higher.
All of this comes after county government department heads and their staffs begin budget season in the dead of winter, usually in January. They weigh their needs and compile their wish lists, creating their proposed budget requests.
These proposed spending plans are then presented in March to the County Board of Supervisors for approval and inclusion in the county budget.
After the supervisors hold their April 21st public hearing, they must wait 7-days before they officially adopt the county’s budget.
Once adopted, Highland County Commissioner of Revenue Yvonne Wimer must compile updated tax assessment records and send them to Highland County Treasurer Christy Harper.
With April 28th being the earliest date for supervisors to adopt the budget, Harper must have a contracted bill processing company print tax bills for taxpayers. Those tax bills must then be mailed out by May 22nd or two weeks before the tax due date of June 5th.
County Administrator Jerri Botkin explains the whole budget process is a team effort put forth by numerous dedicated county employees working for the good of the county.
She notes, however, “It’s a very stressful time for everyone.”
This is Mike Folks for Allegheny Mountain Radio News.
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