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Commissioner Shigatano disputes online claims that Northumberland County raised taxes; provides year‑by‑year figures
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Summary
Commissioner Shigatano told the meeting that county taxes did not increase for 2025–2026, reviewed historical millage changes since 2016, and attributed recent large tax increases affecting Shamokin to city action rather than county policy.
During the public‑comment portion of the meeting, Commissioner Shigatano addressed social media posts claiming the county had raised taxes and asked attendees to correct false information.
Shigatano gave a year‑by‑year account of county tax millage changes during his tenure: he said there was no county increase in 2016–2017, a 3.3‑mill increase in 2017–2018, no increase in 2018–2019, a 0.6‑mill increase in 2019–2020, no increases in 2020–2021, 2021–2022 or 2022–2023, a 5‑mill increase in 2024–2025, and no county increase for 2025–2026. “There was no increase in County taxes this year,” he said, and asked that citizens correct Internet reports attributing the City of Shamokin’s separate and much larger debt millage increase to the county.
Shigatano said the Shamokin City council raised a debt millage from 13.5 to about 94 (numbers as stated in remarks), which he described as an 80.5‑mill increase that is separate from county taxing. He emphasized that some funds reported as going to Shamokin improvements came from state and federal sources rather than county coffers.
A colleague praised Shigatano’s remarks, and the board moved to adjourn. The transcript records Shigatano’s account and a request to publish accurate corrections in local media; the meeting did not include a formal county resolution on the matter.
