Mercer County property owners will see a 1.3 cent increase in taxes after the adoption of a $425.2 million county budget.
The 2024 spending plan was adopted unanimously by County Commissioners at the governing body’s July 9 meeting.
“In spite of the previous administration’s financial mismanagement, which left the county with $11 million in deferred charges, we still made the critical investments that will empower us to continue building a county government that truly works for everyone,” Mercer County Executive Dan Benson said.
The county tax rate for the budget is 54.9 cents per $100 of assessed value. The owner of an average home assessed at $286,000 in Mercer County will pay $1,570 in county taxes for 2024.
Mercer County taxes are just one of the items on a property owner’s total tax bill, which also includes municipal taxes and school district taxes.
The amount a property owner pays in taxes is determined by the assessed value of his or her property, and the tax rates set by each of the taxing entities.
Mercer County’s appropriations are expected to be $425 million, a $1.8 million increase from the $423 million appropriated in 2023.
Residential and commercial property owners support the appropriations through a tax levy, which is increasing to $322 million from $284 million in the previous year.
The county is set to use $30 million from surplus as revenue in the budget.
Other revenues in the 2024 county budget include: $6.8 million from airport income; $5.5 million from interest on investments and deposits; $4.6 million from the county clerk’s office; $3.85 million from Mercer Oaks Golf Course; $2.1 million in added and omitted taxes; $1.5 million from Board of State Prisoners; $1.25 million from Parks Commission Recreation League; and $1.1 million from motor vehicle fines.
For appropriations, the budget is appropriating $114 million towards salary and wages, $48 million toward debt service, and $11.5 million to deferred charges.
Additional appropriations include: $40.5 million toward group health insurance; $19.7 million towards Mercer County Community College; $15.8 million to rental lease payments; $10.7 million to the public employees’ retirement system; $7.4 million to insurance premiums; $6.7 million on utilities; $5 million toward the Special Services School District; and $2 million to capital improvements.
Mercer County’s budget will not just cover items such as the cost of general county administration, the sheriff’s office, salary and wages, and insurance but also the creation of a Public Health and Safety Department and Community Services Department, provide for additional staffing at the county’s procurement office, and funding for a full assessment of Mercer County Corrections.
