SMETHPORT — Taxes are going up one mill in 2020 for McKean County property owners.

The McKean County commissioners passed a budget at Monday’s meeting that calls for a one mill increase, for a total millage rate of 12.25.

“This is the first one since 2017,” Commissioner Cliff Lane said of the tax increase after the meeting. Lane explained that, with expenses such as salaries going up, the increase was necessary to maintain a balanced budget.

The general budget for 2020 is $18,704,115, and the all-funds budget is $43,032,293. The all-funds budget includes all funding that passes through the county, such as grants.

They also authorized the issuance of a tax and revenue anticipation note of $3 million for 2020.

This is less than the tax and revenue anticipation note the county obtained in 2019, which was $3.5 million, noted Pam Burlingame, chief clerk.

In other county business, Bradford attorney Anthony Clarke was appointed to replace Daniel Hartle as county solicitor, effective Jan. 6. Hartle will remain assistant solicitor.

The commissioners also voted in favor of denying a grievance. They said the grievance was for a personnel matter but said they could not provide any more information on it.

They approved a Department of Human Services (DHS) resource family contract and a DHS service agreement. Also, the commissioners approved an agreement for Pennsylvania Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification (SAVIN) maintenance and service between the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute and the county.

The commissioners passed a resolution related to providing a local match of $86,767 to the Area Transportation Authority of North Central Pennsylvania for 2020-21. Additionally, they approved renewal for Veeam backup and replication software for $3,000 at a cost of $7,200.

The next commissioners meeting will be at 10 a.m. Jan. 6, which will be the annual reorganizational meeting.