Schuylkill officials are tightening the county belt in order to avoid a tax increase.

Commissioners on Wednesday approved a preliminary 2015 budget that keeps the property tax rate the same as this year by siphoning $4 million from the reserve fund, but warned of looming austerity measures."Operational costs continue to escalate. In an attempt to mitigate these increases, management has recommended and initiated actions to include limitations on new hires, except for critical positions, utilization of more part-time employees, and leaving vacant positions open where feasible," county Administrator Mark Scarbinsky said.The spending plan calls for $55,225,729 in expenditures and $51,184,929 in revenue. A final budget is expected to be adopted on Dec. 17.The tax rate is now at 13.98 mills, meaning the owner of a home assessed for taxes at $35,000 will pay a $489 county tax bill this year.The tax rate each mill generates about $2.5 million only brings in 61 percent of the revenue the county needs to pay its bills. The remaining 39 percent comes from government grants and county fees.Scarbinsky listed the possible cost-cutting measures officials may consider: A hiring freeze; freezing all travel except for mandatory/certification training; furloughs in non-core areas; eliminating and consolidating positions; using more part-time employees; outsourcing operational functions; changing the asset valuation for the pension plan; and start charging fees for services.The 2015 budget projects a 2.7 percent increase in spending, but only a 2.1 percent increase in revenue. While the reserve fund withdrawal closed the gap, that can't be done routinely.The fund balance as of January was $18.3 million, enough to cover two months of operational expenses.Long-range, commissioners want to ask state lawmakers to seek alternative revenue sources other than property taxes. Scarbinsky mentioned a sales tax on nonessential items, exempting food, prescription medication and medical services."We also need to continue redefining and maintaining a focus on our core functions and priorities," he said. "The unsustainability of wage and benefits packages has to be thoroughly addressed if the county is to maintain fiscal stability."County Finance Director Paul Buber outlined the three forces driving the fiscal crunch. Health care is expected to cost $13.7 million, a $740,000, 4 to 5 percent increase over last year. On top of that, the Affordable Care Act will cost the county more than $100,000 next year.The 911 center is struggling to make ends meet in light of drastically reduced revenue from landline and cell phone taxes. The county expects to ante up an additional $610,000 from the general fund next year. The county's allocation, Buber said, has risen by 156 percent, from $1.2 million to $3.1 million. The prison is also a budget black hole, with staffing and overtime eating up money. The $5 million prison budget is expected to increase by $157,000 next year.One possible light on the horizon is the sale of the county nursing home, Rest Haven, by early next year. The county is honing in on 10 potential buyers, and when the home is sold, the proceeds will be reinvested into the reserve fund, Scarbinsky said.Buber said that careful planning, watching economic trends, and keeping a keen eye on costs helped pare about $1.4 million from the preliminary budget. But there's a lot of hard work to be done between now and Dec. 17, he said.Commissioners' Chairman Frank J. Staudenmeier said the county would continue to do all it can to keep the tax rate the same. Last year, the county increased the rate by 2 mills. It was the first time in 10 years the rate had been raised.