Public meetings on Montgomery County’s proposed 2024 budget brought out the ire of a handful of residents upset about the prospect of another property tax increase.
A proposed real estate tax increase was introduced last month that would raise the county’s millage rate from 4.237 mills to 4.778 mills, which finance officials said would generate $33.4 million in revenue into the general fund.
However, residents assert the increase is unwarranted given the turbulent economic landscape and tough times due to ongoing inflation.
"For taxes to go up double-digit during these times when everything is more expensive, I wonder where the reductions are,” Montgomeryville Township resident Thomas Dwyer said on Thursday.
Upper Pottsgrove Township resident Toni Patrick agreed.
"I just know there’s a lot of people out here that cannot do an increase on the county taxes plus the real estate taxes plus the school taxes that are going up,” she said. "What are you guys planning to do for regular residents who’ve been living in this county for 50, 60 years? This is just out of control what you guys have with the overspending.”
Figures from the proposed 2024 budget show $568 million in revenue and $567.8 in expenditures, according to Chief Financial Officer Dean Dortone.
The county’s largest revenue drivers come from real estate taxes at 51.6 percent, federal and state grants at 37.3 percent and departmental earnings at 11.1 percent, according to budget documents.
On the expenditure side, the Health and Human Services accounts for 38.6 percent of expenses, with judicial and county administration following with 18.6 percent and 15.2 percent, respectively.
While public attendance was sparse, some participants in Thursday’s public hearings applauded the proposed 2024 budget.
"I’m here really just to thank you guys for your support in the past for open space. I love to see you guys open trails,” said Michael Stokes, chairman of the county’s open space board.
Karen D’Angelo, executive director for the Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library, shared her gratitude to the county for granting financial for facility redevelopment, as well as funds to allow employees a salary of $15 per hour.
"Thank you all for your support and increase in support for the renovations for the library. It’s going to make a huge difference to the community to all of Montgomery County,” D’Angelo said.
But Dwyer stressed it’s not enough to offset rising costs. He told the three county commissioners, "that’s important but it’s not … compensating for what we’re seeing these days and during these difficult times we have to look for reductions as well and that’s what I hope to see in the budget.”
Ambler resident David Morgan encouraged elected officials to instead offer more opportunities for further dialogue and suggested a forum be held at Montgomery County Community College.
East Norriton Township resident Kim Henderson added that incoming county commissioners should have more say in budget proceedings. Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairman Ken Lawrence Jr. and Commissioner Joe Gale will be leaving the board at the end of the year.
Commissioner-elect Jamila Winder, who also serves as the board’s current vice chairwoman, Neil Makhija and Tom DiBello were the top three vote-getters in the November general election and will begin serving four-year terms on the board in January.
"This public hearing is intended for the board of commissioners to listen and hear comments from the public but not to respond directly to individual questions during the hearing,” Lawrence said, adding that "we look forward to taking your comments into account as we begin to make our final considerations on this budget.”
The 2024 budget and capital improvement program will be up for a vote at the next Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting at 10 a.m. on Dec. 14 on the eighth floor of One Montgomery Plaza, 425 Swede St.
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