Faced with a $18.6 million deficit, Montgomery County officials seek an eight percent real estate tax hike for their 2023 budget. Further, they look to raise funds to hire more employees, filling vacancies that have reached historically high levels. Emily Rizzo reported the numbers for WHYY.

The proposed property tax increase, eight percent, would yield $19.6 million more for the county’s coffers. It would also dig into the pockets of Montco homeowners (those owning houses worth less than $141,000) $35 more per year.

The intended solution for the county’s staff vacancy issue (12 percent of slots are currently unfilled) is salary. A four percent increase in noncontractual county positions and a base wage increase for contractual employees is hoped to lure applicants. These “new personnel costs” will tally to $15 million, about seven percent higher than in 2022.

Montgomery County’s capital fund budget for 2023 will include the following outlays:

• $38 million to improve county facilities
• $20 million for roads and bridges improvements
• $12 million for parks and trails, another $20 million for trail projects
• $30 million for the Ridge Pike Improvement Project
• $3 million for the Norristown Public Library

The public comment on these proposals can be submitted by email or regular mail until tomorrow, Dec. 15.

More on the Montgomery County’s 2023 budget is at WHYY.