Carbon County is holding the line on county real estate taxes in 2021.

On Thursday, the county commissioners approved next year’s tentative $62,200,149 spending plan, which calls for the millage rate to remain at 12.25.

That means that the owner of a home assessed at $50,000 will again pay $612.50 in county real estate taxes next year.

The 2021 spending plan has three components:

The operating fund, $48,632,979, up $1.3 million from this year’s budget; capital projects, $10,232,053, down $4.3 million; and special funds, $3,090,043, up $245,074.

“Glad we were able to hold the budget line this year; however I am concerned what state budget approval will do to us next year,” Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said.

He cited mental health and drug and alcohol services that have seen a rise in cases due to the pandemic and noted these services are crucial, but costly.

In addition, caseloads in the court system, including six murder cases this year; Children and Youth and Domestic Relations are continuing to rise, which then increase costs.

Big-ticket items in next year’s budget include the 44/76 Susquehanna St. renovation project, as well as the prison roof, which is expected to cost approximately $800,000, the commissioners pointed out.

There are also the normal increases in pension contributions and employee health care, as well as contractual obligations for raises for union employees.

The budget is now available for review on the Carbon County website at www.carboncounty.com or https://bit.ly/332ncoR.

It will be finalized and formally adopted during the commissioners’ Dec. 17 meeting.