SMETHPORT – “It’s going to be a difficult budget year,” Chairman
of McKean County Commissioners Joe DeMott said at Thursday’s work
session.

In addition to the effect of higher fuel, heating and energy
costs, as well as a nine percent increase in medical insurance
costs, the county faces a shortfall in state payments, DeMott
explained, noting that the state is having its own financial
problems and has made cuts in several areas that affect the
county.

In one big one according to DeMott, no money has been allocated
to pay the 65 percent share of the district attorney’s salary the
law apparently says the state is responsible for; that amount would
be well in excess of ,100,000.

DeMott explained that several years ago, as an enticement to
counties to make district attorneys full-time, the state had agreed
to pay 65 percent of their salaries, but payment of that this year
is uncertain.

DeMott also noted that the state is tightening its own budget,
and is offering only one percent increases in funding many areas in
which the county is mandated to provide services.

Additionally, Commissioner Al Pingie pointed out, the previous
board of commissioners used ,1.2 million from the sale of the
landfill to balance the 2008 budget.

That money is not available this year, he said.

Pingie did point out that the present commissioners had made one
move that is helping ease the budget problems when they eliminated
a number of “high paying” jobs created by the previous board.

The total saving there was about ,400,000, Pingie said.

The commissioners said that they have been meeting with
department heads about budget needs and that those meetings are
still going on.

DeMott did see some hope for better days ahead, saying that he
expected 2009 to be the “most difficult of the next few years.” He
explained that commissioners have expectations of coming revenue
from oil and gas drilling on county property and more income from
Rustick LLC if the company is successful in expanding the
landfill.

Contract negotiations with two unions representing county
workers are still going on, with another contract tentatively
settled.

Pingie said that there was apparent agreement with the
approximately 20 American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees members, and that he believed the local union had
ratified the contract earlier this week. Talks with the local union
representing about a dozen workers at the 9-1-1 Center are still
going on.

Commissioner Judy Church, who has been negotiating with the
Pennsylvania Social Services Union representing about 50 courthouse
workers, said those talks are still going on.

Church and Pingie both said they were hopeful the contracts
would be settled by the end of the year, when the current
agreements expire.

Commissioners also noted that Retirement and Salary Board
meetings scheduled for Nov. 4 would be held Nov. 5, because the 4th
is Election Day.

November’s regular monthly meeting of commissioners, scheduled
for Nov. 25, will be rescheduled because there is a County
Commissioners Association conference on Nov. 23-25. The time of the
rescheduled meeting will be advertised.