Smart Talk: What challenges do PA’s counties face?

What to look for on Smart Talk, Monday, November 18, 2013:

It’s budget season for Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.  County commissioners would probably say that budget planning and adhering to their current spending plans never stop — no matter what time of year it is — but the fact is counties are in the early stages of releasing the blueprints for their 2014 budgets to the public.

What taxpayers will see is that budgets are tight and commissioners are having to make tough decisions on whether and what to cut or find ways to generate new revenue that may include tax increases.  

Money is just one of the challenges facing the state’s counties.

Others include maintaining human service programs, paying for their courts, and modernizing property reassessments.

Appearing on Monday Smart Talk is Douglas Hill, Executive Director of the County Commissioner Association of Pennsylvania, Lancaster County Commissioner Scott Martin and Dauphin County Commissioner Jeff Haste.

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