Somerset votes to increase taxes; residents share mixed responses

SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — Increasing taxes was at the forefront of discussion at the Somerset Commissioners meeting on Tuesday.

Residents shared their frustrations with commissioners, who explained why they say they are raising taxes.

The decision goes both ways as there are people who say they understand, while others say they don’t want things to change.

Somerset County commissioners passed a motion Tuesday to increase taxes for residents.

“I want to know where the money is going,” one resident said.

Somerset County commissioner’s chairman, Brian Fochtman, says he, the vice chairman, and treasurer are ‘freezing’ their salaries. He says they are doing this to help compensate budget spending for a tax hike, which was approved at Tuesday’s meeting.

“Furthermore, Irv and I have begun the steps to research and fact finding into our revenue sources that could generate income that could be relied on for our opening budget in the future.”

Fochtman says he hopes to find ways to relieve "pressure" on taxpayers.

This “pressure" will result in over $52 extra for people making less than $30,000 a year, a $70 increase for $40,000 per year, and a $175 increase for people sitting on six digits or less.

Business owner Guy Berkebile says he understands the commissioners’ decision.

“The commissioners are in a certain situation where they can’t do anything right in certain people's minds. If they do nothing, and we continue to operate with some of our employees, earning salaries at pre-COVID rates, they’re going to continue to lose employees, and be unable to hire new employees.”

One man says he thinks taxes should not be raised.

“Water is low. You don’t use more water. You find places where you can cut back. Things are not good in the economy, worldwide, nationwide. You find places to cut back.”

Commissioners add that 50 percent of Somerset County residents will see an increase of $30 or less.

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