BROOKVILLE, Pa. (EYT) — Taxpayers in Jefferson County got some good news on Tuesday.
The County Commissioners received a report from their financial advisor during Tuesday morning’s meeting in Brookville indicating the county will save nearly $500,000.00 over the life of a loan it secured last year for projects involving the new county jail and others.
Mark Lundquist, a financial advisor with Susquehanna Group Advisors, was present to report the news to the commissioners.
“When the loan was first obtained, interest rates were a little bit higher, but since then, they have dropped and we renegotiated the loan with S & T Bank, and it will save the county about $25,000.00 for the next 19 years,” Lundquist said. “Also, the new rate is locked in, and if interest rates drop, the county would also get that benefit.”
The original loan was for $10 million.
Also, the county commissioners approved three expenditures totaling $154,144.00 for improvements, upgrades, and maintenance to its 911 Center.
The first was for $111,230.00 for software upgrades to the CAD system at the 911 Center and the second was for $37,260.00 for maintenance for the next year on the current CAD system.
“It gets us to the next platform and puts us in line with other counties as we work to phase in the next generation CAD system,” said Chris Clark of Jefferson County 911. “It’s been in operation for six years in other counties, such as Centre and Indiana, and they seem satisfied with it. It also has better reporting software, which will be beneficial.”
Clark also said the county budget should see little or no impact for the improvement project since most of the money for it will come from the state’s Act 12 legislation passed last year to provide counties with money to help pay for the costs of 911.
Also, the commissioners approved an agreement with MCM Consulting Group, Inc. to prepare and implement next generation 911.
Tracy Zents, Jefferson County’s Emergency Services Director, said there is money available to help pay for the cost of updating 911 services.
“We’ve been part of the Northern Tier Regional Telecommunications Project for a number of years now and we will be working with other counties to save the taxpayers money,” Zents said.
Jefferson County’s portion is 14.81 percent.
“This is determined by the number of positions at the call center and the number of calls we receive. “At the most, the county’s cost would be $5,654.00,” Zents said.
The NTRTP includes Jefferson, Clarion, Clearfield, Elk, Forest, Cameron, Crawford, McKean, Warren, and Erie counties.
In other news, the renovations to the county courthouse have been completed, according to Commissioners Jack Matson.
“The paint has been dry for about a week-and-a-half, so that’s finished,” Matson said.
The total cost of the cleanup work was $24,722.00. The initial disaster restoration was $12,000.00.
About four months ago, in mid-February, a massive water leak, caused when a pipe broke, damaged two offices in the tax assessment office, a conference room used by the District Attorney and another office.
Fortunately, insurance covered the cost of the work.
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