And the hits, they kept on coming. As Schuylkill County officials worked on the budget for 2019, they came face to face with a huge challenge — how to close the gap between revenues and expenses, especially since that gap was more like a yawning dark abyss, a budget deficit of $10.6 million.

From the outset, the county financial team knew significant areas where the costs would increase: Employee wages by $800,000; the allocation for Children & Youth by $875,000; the allocation for 911 by $400,000. And after digesting all that, more hits — new voter machines would cost $370,000 and the contribution to the retirement fund would go up $425,000. As County Financial Director Paul Buber explained during the county commissioners workshop meeting Wednesday, the financial team was able to reduce the deficit to $5 million and will avoid a tax increase by drawing that money from the unassigned fund balance to cover it.

The commissioners are expected to formally approve the budget next month, with projected expenditures of $63.4 million offset by projected revenues of $58.4 million. The proposed 2019 real estate millage will remain at 15.98 mills, which includes 15.38 mills for the general fund and 0.60 mills for the 2019 funded debt account. The per capita tax will remain at $5.

The Board of Commissioners — Chairman George Halcovage, Frank Staudenmeier and Gary Hess — thanked the financial team, row officers and department heads for their work on the budget. County Administrator Gary Bender, Buber, Financial Analyst Christopher Kerns, County Controller Christy Joy and County Treasurer Linda Marchalk were present at the meeting; the commissioners thanked them all as a team.

“We provide services,” Halcovage said. “That’s one of the things county government does, and we want to thank the team.”

“I go back to 2004, when we adopted zero-based budgeting,” Staudenmeier said. “We all came from the private sector (Staudenmeier, Bob Carl and Mantura Gallagher). Historically the budget had just added 3 percent every year.”

Hess said that county officials have to persevere through challenges.

“The administration is always hit with unfunded mandates, and we need to find the funds,” Hess said. “Even when the state can’t pass the budget, we have to make the ship float.”

During the workshop meeting, the commissioners established the proposed real estate millage and per capita tax and adopted the preliminary budget. They will formally approve the budget in December.

In other action

Scott Krater of 911 Communications asked the commissioners to renew a software support agreement with Infor Emergency Systems, Tampa, for 24/7 support of the 911 CAD system. The system was installed in 2002, and the renewal cost, good for a year, is $111,596. Krater said that during the recent snowstorm, the center fielded 1,378 calls, with more than 100 responses from fire and EMS officials, and 300 police responses. Krater said that day-shift staff stayed on during second shift to handle the workload.

Grant writer Michelle O’Connell asked permission to advertise for a CDBG demolition project at 241 Lafayette St., Tamaqua. Bids will be due in the controller’s office by 4 p.m. Dec. 10 with bids opened Dec. 12 and tentatively awarded Dec. 13.

Bender asked the commissioners to approve a $44,000 contract to Bill Davis Cement Contractors, Mahanoy City, to replace a noncompliant and deteriorating ramp in the county prison courtyard. Dallago Backhoe Service, Pottsville, will be paid $8,220 to excavate and remove the existing ramp.

County Treasurer Linda Marchalk submitted her report from October.

The commissioners are expected to approve those requests during their meeting Nov. 28.