Washington County Commissioners ended 2023 on a high note on several levels. The county passed a $168 million budget with no tax increase in 2024. Additionally, Commissioners helped the Washington County Library System with their funding crisis due to a budget stall in Harrisburg. Commissioners, using a memorandum of understanding advanced the library system all of its $200,000 allotment immediately. It also is loaning the system $165,000 of the anticipated $660,000 that they would receive from Harrisburg. Interim System Administrator of the Washington County Library System, Diane Ambrose thanked Commissioners for their fast action in getting the funding together. Ambrose says that now all 14 libraries will make it until the end of the year and into next year when the funding will be allocated. The Pennsylvania Legislature adopted the spending plan that covers libraries late on Wednesday night. Ambrose says it is not clear when the funding from Harrisburg will arrive. During public comment, several people addressed the board pleading with them to somehow remove April Sloane from her position as Controller. Sloane is facing charges of animal neglect after police and animal control officers found an emaciated dog enclosed in a plastic bag in her garage. Muse resident A.C. Rowland went further, asking that her office be audited. Her reasoning is that if Sloane did this to an animal, what harm could she have done to county funds. Commissioner Diana Irey-Vaughan says that there is no way for the county to remove her. If Sloane were to resign, Commissioner Nick Sherman says they are examining what the procedure would be to replace her. Sloane did not attend Thursday’s commissioners meeting.