Early 2012 Budget Numbers from Montco Commissioners

The Montgomery County Commissioners are meeting right now at One Montgomery Plaza in Norristown, discussing the proposed county budget for 2012 – which includes a $44.4 million shortfall.

We'll be filing a story on today's meeting later in the day, but we have some preliminary numbers the commissioners are discussing that we thought folks might like to see.

2012 Budget Reductions

Shortfall – $44,424,664

1. No Pay Increase – $4.2 million

2. Reduce or Eliminate Appropriation Funding:

• Library – $2.3 million
• College – $2.5 million
• Legal Aid – $288,800
• Norristown – $266,300
• – $114,000
• Mass Transit – $307,000
• All Others – $469,950

* The appropriation changes to Norristown, the library and Elmwood Park Zoo represent total eliminations.

3. Reduce Department Budgets to 2011 Levels with Exceptions – $7.9 million

4. Reduce Department Budgets 15 percent from 2011 Levels with Exceptions – $16.5 million

5. Eliminate or Downsize County Departments:

• Eliminate Parks – $5.1 million
• Eliminate Planning Commission – $2.5 million
• Reduce Child Care Dependent Request – $610,000
• Reduce Security & Sheriff's Department – $1 million
• Recycling Fund – $89,830

Other Options

1. Tax Increase – .77 mills. A 28.6 percent increase (about $130 for the average homeowner.)

2. Decrease Ending Fund Balance

3. One Day Furloughs – $425,000

Check back with Patch later for more coverage of the commissioners' meeting and updates on where the proposed 2012 budget is going.