The half mill tax increase in Cambria County will happen. For the average Cambria County homeowner it amounts to $20 more a year. More changes for the county include a hiring freeze and eliminating 2 positions. The county will maintain all services and put over 2 million dollars into employees retirement and health care. County management will see a 3% raise, the Commissioners get a 2% raise. They say they're making Cambria County more financially stable. A goal that could be hard because Governor Rendell says, even though he promised tax relief while campaigning, counties won't see it until at least 2006.

P.J. Stevens is the President of the Cambria County Commissioners. He tells Channel 6 News, "Thats where its difficult. We only have the one way to raise revenues. We'd love to see some assistance. I don't know what it's gonna take to do it."

The Cambria County budget goes into effect January 1st.

Stevens says property tax reassessment will happen though. But the question is when? And will everyone have to pay more? Stevens says the reassessment won't happen in 2005. Next year will be devoted to preparation for it. That means there will be setup time. A task force has been put together to look at the issues. There will also be an educational program for the community to understand the process of reassessment. Stevens says it will then happen from 2006 to 2007. He says it takes 2 years to implement. But the Commissioners are not expecting it to be bad news for everyone. Stevens says, "Those in the area that have declined basically are over taxed. So it'll be a benefit to most and of course it may be more of a requirement for others. But it's fair."

Of course homeowners Channel 6 News talked to in Cambria County Wednesday say if this reassessment raises their taxes they won't like it.