Clarion County is entering 2020 with a very healthy fund balance. Treasurer Tom McConnell said the county has a balance of nearly $4.5 million.
“It was a good year for interest, thanks to the higher account balances,” McConnell said. “High balances mean high interest.”
McConnell said the county received $111,402 in interest in 2019. In 2018, the county received $92,000 in interest.
The money on hand also means the county was able to purchase the Probation and District Magistrate’s Office in Clarion, the new District Attorney’s Office and the records storage facility on River Hill without borrowing money.
The continuing Clarion County Courthouse rehabilitation project also is being paid out of the fund balance.
Several Clarion County accounts showed a significant increase from the previous year, including the Children & Youth Services fund. That fund requires the county to expend the funds before the state will reimburse the county.
At one point, the state was almost $1 million behind in the payments, which cost the county thousands in interest.
The Clarion County commissioners elected to deposit more money into some accounts for future use, and they indicated they have plans for at least part of the fund balance.
As a part of the county’s 10-year capital improvement plan, the commissioners listed several projects.
Short-term plans include renovations at the courthouse, including new basement restrooms and renovations for the sheriff’s office. A priority is a new roof at the county jail.
The county recently entered into a contract with Delta Development Group. The grant writer will match proposed county projects to available grants. Those grant opportunities range from infrastructure to development. Delta will work with the county and other municipalities on specific projects.
Most of the grants come with a local match required. The county can use the fund balance for that match.
“It was a very good year for Clarion County,” Commissioner Ted Tharan said.
Commissioner Ted Heasley said, “As long as the stock market stays healthy we should be in good shape.”