The Centre County Board of Commissioners approved a 23 percent property tax increase Tuesday, marking the first tax increase for county residents in eight years.
In a 2-1 vote, 2010's nearly $81 million budget was approved with support from commissioners Steve Dershem, a Republican, and Rich Rogers, a Democrat. Commissioner Jon Eich, a Democrat, was the opposing vote.
Homeowners currently pay an average of $370 per year in property taxes. With next year's $80 increase, they will pay $450 annually.
The increase was not without citizen opposition.
"You are breaking the backs of many good people in this county," Mylinda Mishock, of Pleasant Gap, said. "I just really object that in this time you would even consider giving raises to people who are blessed to have jobs."
The commissioners explained that the 1.5 percent pay increase for Centre County employees is largely in response to employee cost-of-living increases, namely a 25 percent rise in employee health care costs.
Assistant Administrator Denise Elbe said that although the tax rate is increasing, it is remaining at the same proportion of citizen's overall tax burden at 16 percent.
Dershem pointed to the economic recession that plagues state and local governments in Pennsylvania.
"The storm has gathered over local governments, particularly county governments," Dershem said. "I'm hoping that this is a worst case scenario and we can make it through next year and guide the ship to port and maybe even lower taxes next year."
The commissioners also defended the tax increase, explaining that there are county programs the state requires them to provide.
But Eich said one of the reasons he voted against the "deficit budget" was because he didn't think it was practical.
When the tentative budgets were proposed earlier this month, Eich supported a 30 percent tax increase, which is 7 percentage points higher than this year's increase.
"The budgets for the departments have been squeezed so tight that we will see numerous departments go over their budget," Eich said.
Eich proposed a list of motions to amend the budget, including a motion that would require Dershem and Rogers to return the $675 raise they would receive in the year's budget.
Rogers said the raises are out of his control because county officials control the code.
A tentative version of the budget was passed Dec. 1 and was required by law to be available for public viewing 20 days before its official adoption.
