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Somerset County commissioners approve preliminary UT budget with $400,000 TIF offset to cut tax impact
Summary
After a detailed presentation of the FY2027 unorganized territory budget showing a 16.48% proposed increase, commissioners approved a preliminary draft that applies $400,000 in TIF receipts to lower the projected taxpayer increase to about 2.5%.
David, who presented the FY2027 preliminary unorganized territory (UT) budget, told commissioners the draft as submitted shows a 16.48% increase driven by requests for additional law enforcement staffing, a bridge replacement and more than $1 million in capital road projects. "That's why we're up 16.48%," David said, listing a proposed third deputy (with cruiser and equipment), a quote to replace a 31-foot bridge over Sandy Stream, and major capital roads work.
Commissioners probed how the percentage translates to individual taxpayers and the mill rate, and David and other staff explained that state valuations and the timing of the CMP/NECEC corridor coming online would affect the final mill rate. David said the county has alternatives to reduce the increase with TIF (tax-increment financing) receipts: $250,000 from TIF would reduce the increase to 7.75%, $300,000 to 6.0%, $350,000 to 4.26% and $400,000 to about 2.51%.
Several commissioners signaled support for lowering the preliminary draft before submission. Commissioner John moved to approve the preliminary UT budget presented by David while applying $400,000 from TIF to bring the projected increase to roughly 2.5%; the motion was clarified administratively and approved by voice vote. David said he would add $400,000 to a miscellaneous revenue line and submit the draft to the state, noting final edits remain possible before the final budget is filed.
The action leaves the county able to revise the figures before the final submission and preserves the option to use fund balance or make later adjustments if emergency needs arise. David also noted incoming TIF receipts, including a $450,000 check from the NECEC corridor and an expected wind-farm payment that would increase TIF balances and influence future allocations.
Next steps: the preliminary UT budget as amended will be sent to state reviewers; commissioners can revisit line items and finalize the budget before adoption.
