SMETHPORT — The McKean County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to begin the necessary procedures to secure a Tax Anticipation Note for the 2017 fiscal year.
Since the county experiences a negative cash flow during January and February every year because revenue from the upcoming year’s real property assessment are not yet payable, the commissioners plan to secure a TAN in an amount not exceeding $3.5 million to be repaid within the first six months of 2017.
The Local Government Unit Debt Act, which recognizes this as an annual occurrence, spells out the procedures for securing a TAN.
The commissioners also authorized the county to enter into a grant agreement with the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency for the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Funds for 2016. The grant, which amounts to $50,000, is to be used for the Bradford City Second Ward Neighborhood Housing Project.
PHARE money is generated through the unconventional gas well fee for wells drilled in the county. While this amount can vary from year to year, the $50,000 represents this year’s allocation and is to be used for rehabilitating homes. The McKean County Redevelopment and the Bradford Office of Economic and Community Development (OECD) collaborate on the best use of the funding.
In another vote, the commissioners agreed to supply financial support to the Area Transportation Authority (ATA) of North Central Pennsylvania, for the fiscal year July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018
The amount $74,119, which represents the local share of matching funds, will be paid in quarterly payments of $18,529.75.
Angelia Tennies, chief assessor, certified the Assessment Valuation Summary
that she presented to the commissioners during this meeting is a true copy of the original assessment roll and also certified the assessment rolls for the 2017 tax year.
The 2016 assessed valuation summary includes information on the number, acreage, land and improvement values and Clean and Green in the categories of agricultural, commercial, forests, industrial, residential, seasonal and trailers for each of the county’s municipalities, plus a breakdown of the wards in Bradford City.
The revenue loss of the 3,267properties in Clean and Green is $979,381.70.
The commissioners also unanimously denied two grievances for the 911 department.
Meanwhile, Blaine Puller, farmer director, and Kerry Fetter, a public director, were reappointed to the McKean County Conservation District for four-year terms. Cliff Lane was named to another one-year term as the county commissioner representative for the district.
Numerous service agreements also gained the commissioners’ OK.
Resource provider agreements were approved for Carol Armagost, Bradford: Steven and Jennifer Cornelius, Bradford; Roger Malone, Kane; and Kevin and Pamela Snyder, Kane.
Human Service Development Agreements were approved with Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services and The Guidance Center.
A contractual agreement was approved with Ramsbottom Center, while purchase of service agreements were supported with Children’s Aid Society, Clearfield; and Perseus House Inc. Erie.
