Despite a projected deficit of $3.5 milllion, the Schuylkill County Commissioners adopted a budget for 2011 calling for no increase in real estate taxes for the seventh consecutive year and also granted a three percent pay hike to 175 non-union county workers, in action taken at the public meeting held Wednesday at the courthouse in Pottsville.

The anticipated expenditures are projected by the county's financial team at $47.6 million but the real estate tax revenues only comes to $44.1 million. Under the law a budget must be balanced before adopted and the commissioners are digging into the county's unrestricted surplus account to even the scales. This unrestricted fund was built by past board of commissioners, mostly under the leadership of Paul Sheers, Richard Higgins and the late Franklin Shollenberger, and reached $10 million. The purpose of the fund is to have funds available in case of a major disaster.The run of holding the reign on taxes began when current Minority Commissioner Frank Staudenmeier was a majority member of the board. When the Democrats took control three years ago, Mantura Gallagher and Francis McGovern, continued with the policy to hold down taxes.Mark Scarbinsky, fiscal administrator, summed up the board's strategy "to continue rightsizing of government, although immediate layoffs were avoided, furloughs, along with outsourcing will be considered throughout 2011 in response to the general economy, tax revenues and federal and state allocations." The tax millege on real estate stays at 11.98 mills, .56 of a mill for funded debt and a $5 per capita tax on each person 18 years or older.Pay hikeThe non-union workers did not get a pay hike in 2010 as their wages were frozen so the three percent hike comes to 1.5 percent for 2010 and 2011. Also the commissioners approved a wage reopener agreement for 2010 for 83 full time and 44 part time employees at the Rest Haven Home and Hospital who are members of the

A.F.S.C.M.E. Local 1721 AFL-CIO Union to increase wages for calendar year 2010 by 2.5 percent. The increase shall only apply to employees who are on active payroll status and depends on union ratification.New appointmentsSeveral new appointments were made on various board where terms expired.Planning Commission - Gerald Lengel, Pine Grove, former county treasurer, and Charles Ross, Orwigsburg, who retired as executive director of the commission, were named to the board for four year terms. Lengel replaces Adolph Slovik, McAdoo, whose term expired and Ross replaces Judith Diobilda, who resigned. Ross will have a duel role on the board, as a voting board member and also as a per diem employee to guide the new executive director yet to be named.Zoning Hearing Board - Dr. Dave Ambrose, Pottsville, was appointed for a three year term to replace George Chickersky, Gordon, whose term expired.Schuylkill County Industrial Development Authority (SCIDA) - John F. Reilly, Jr., Ashland, was appointed for a five year term to succeed Tim Twardzik, whose term expired.Schuylkill County Municipal Authority - John D. W. Reiley, Pottsville, was appointed for a five year term to succeed Ned Connors whose term expired.Schuylkill County Airport Authority - Tom Joulwan, Schuylkill Haven, was apponted a five year member to succeed Bruce McCormick whose term expired. Commissioner Mantura Gallagher abstained from voting on his appointment because Joulwan is a relative. Alan Minnick, Schuylkill Haven, was appointed to fill the unexpired term of George Pothering who passed away.Office of Senior Services - Ms. Gloria Bercher, Orwigsburg and Ms. Dorothy Cupino, William Van Stone, Sr. and Lloyd Wertz, all of Pottsville,. were re-appointed for three years to serve on the advisory board.Citizens Corps Council - Carol Bowen, Frackville, Frackville; Richard Deal, Pottsvile; Charles Hepler, Butler Township; John M. Matz, North Manheim Township; Susan Smith, Pottsville; Vanessa Mihoda, Port Carbon; Janet Curtis, Wayne Township; Timothy Firestone, Mount Carbon; Janice Johnston, West Mahanoy Township; Joel Koch, Schuylkill Haven and Jay Woodward, Frackville. (This council acts as the advisory board for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program and Citizens Corps Program. The programs are based on the concept of neighbor helping neighbor during a disaster).Coal leasesRenewals were approved for leases to mine on county held land from which the county receives royalty payments for each ton mined.Joe Kuperavage Coal Company, coal tract in Blythe Township, Joseph A. Kuperavage and Robert T. Kuperavage, principal owners, year lease total, $2,920; grand total, $232,486.20 and n second tract in Blythe Township, year lease total, $8,920; grand total, $665,429.09.Michael Coal Company, Scott B. Kimmel, owner, coal contract in Tremont Township, year lease, $3,500; grand total, $102,826.57.Char-Pac Coal Company, George Sorokach, Sr. and Dawn S. Sorokach, owners, coal tract in Foster Township, year lease, $8,931.56; grand total, $78,584.20.Approve contractsA new recyclable materials supply agreement was entered with Cougle's Recycling Inc., Hamburg, for one year with the county having the option to renew for two additional one-year terms.A professional services agreement was entered with Y. Kim Associates for architectural services associated with the preparation of final plans, construction schedule, bid documents review and inspection services for renovation of the 410 Centre Street Building owned by the county and used by Human Services Agency. The cost not to exceed $61,742.Approved to extend contract with Merrick Group, Hazleton, to April 1, 2011 to complete repairs to the county bridge which carries Mill Road over Deep Creek in Hubley Township and approved additional funds in the amount of $325,000 to reconstruct the county covered bridge which carries Newswanger Road over Little Swatara Creek in Washington Township.Renewed the insurance policy with Midwest Employer's Casualty Company through Higgins Insurance Agency, Pottsville, for excess workers compensation costs. The premium for the period from January 1, 2011 to January 2, 2012 is $63,619 based on an estimated payroll of $27,732.814.Approved an agreement with Capital Blue Cross for medical coverage for county prisoners at the rate of 14.4 percent per paid claim with a $5,000 annual minimum for the period January 1 through December 31, 2011.Approved a purchase of service agreement on behalf of Children and Youth Services Agency with Friendship House, Scranton, for Group Home at $173.31 per day and emergency placement at $173.31 per day.Budget changesA budget adjustment was granted Rest Haven Home to transfer $17,400 from other accounts to cover resident medical expense, hospitalization increase and maintenance.A budget adjustment was approved for court administration to transfer $17,300 from other accounts to cover court appointed counsel to represent indigents. When there are co-defendants only one can be represented by a public defender and the other needs a court appointed counsel to prevent conflict.Approval was given to transfer $58,000 from the hotel tax collected to the Visitor's Bureau. During the past several years, growth in lodging establishmenmts and occupancy resulted in increase of hotel tax collections which was not anticipate and not budgeted.A grant of $12,555 received from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency was awarded the county to fund the "License To Carry Program" through the county sheriff's department was added to the sheriff's budget.Zoning ordinanceThe commissioners adopted the revised zoning ordinance which covers boroughs and townships which do not have their own zoning laws. The new ordinance lists districts for airports, heliports, helipads and private airport and windmills and gasification plants.Personnel mattersThe commissioners acted on a number of personal matters.Rest Haven Home - Racheal McGoey, Port Carbon, hired as part time licensed practical nurse at $15.99 per hour; Diane Bridges, Minersville, full time nurse's aide, $11.72 per hour anShelby Thomas, Ashland, per diem accounts clerk, $16 per hour. Lisa Pascuzzo, Cressona, resigned as a full time business officer manager effective November 10.Sheriff's Office - James Whalen, Mahanoy City, retired as central booking processsing specialist and Elizabeth Rennick, Saint Clair, was hired to fill the post at $12.63 per hour.Planning Commission - Charles Ross, Orwigsburg, who retired as executive director of the planning commission was appointed per diem planning director at $30.88 per hour.Children and Youth Services Agency - Jonathan Pozza, Minersville, hired as caseworker 1 at $16.1944 per hour and Sarah Snyder, Gordon, promoted to caseworker 2 at $16.8419 per hour and Leanna Zukovich, Rush Township, was appointed an unpaid student intern at no stipence.Court Administration - Mary Jo Laslow, Orwigsburg, retired as a judicial secretary to Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin effective December 29.Juvenile Probation Department - Michael Wallauer, Ashland, retired as a deputy chief effective December 31.County Prison - Barbara Schwartz, Pine Grove, retired as a corectional officer effective December 31, after 18 years of service.Adult Probation Department - Rebeka Bernabe, Hamburg, and Benjamin Barket, Schuylkill Haven, appointed unpaid interns.Salary boardThe salary board met at the conclusion of the commissioners meeting and acted on a number of matters.At the request of District Attorney James P. Goodman the position of full time county detective was eliminated and a new position of part time secretary 3 was created and salar fixed at $13.56 per hour.At the request of Treasurer Jacqueline McGovern the position of full time clerk II was eliminated and a position of part time clerk II was created and salary set at $12.78 per hour.A temporary new position was created in the planning commission, per diem planning director and salary set at $30,88 per hour.In the Schuylkill Conservation District the position of conservation district manmager mentor was eliminated and the current conservation district manager, Elizabeth Hinkel, of Barry Township, was given a pay increase to $42,196 per year.