Montco proposes 2016 tax hike

NORRISTOWN Montgomery County has proposed a tax increase of 9.8 percent for 2016, citing rising costs for debt service, inmate health care, an arbitration award with corrections officers, and increasing demands on county services.

The new tax rate would amount to roughly $199 per year for each $100,000 of property value. For the average homeowner, that would be $51.85 more than last year.

The budget proposed Thursday calls for $390 million in general-fund expenditures, a 5 percent increase over 2015. It also proposes $49.4 million in net capital expenses and $8.5 million in net open space spending.

Among other things, the tax increase would nearly double the county's payment to its underfunded pension system, increase staffing for county parks and buildings, and provide a 1.5 percent raise for most employees.

Even with the increase, Montgomery County's tax rate would remain lower than Bucks, Delaware, or Chester Counties'.

Hearings on the proposed budget are scheduled for Dec. 3 at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. at One Montgomery Plaza, 450 Swede St., Norristown. The commissioners are scheduled to vote on the budget Dec. 17.

The proposal can be viewed online at www.montcopa.org or in person on the eighth floor of One Montgomery Plaza. - Jessica Parks