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Final Mt. Jewett budget shows no tax increase |
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Written by Publisher
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Tuesday, 08 December 2009 |
MT. JEWETT – The Mt. Jewett Borough Council adopted a 2010 budget that shows no increase in property taxes.
Council President Chuck Paar joined with Councilmen Don Martyna, Brad “Chip” Lannen and Brett Morgan in approving the spending plan that calls for the use of reserve funds to make ends meet.
Morgan last month opposed the tentative budget. He said he favors a half mill tax increase to avoid the use of reserve funds.
Morgan was planning to cast a negative vote Monday against the proposed budget, but changed his mind to give council the majority of four votes needed to pass the spending plan.
Councilmen Wil Antrim and Paul Ewing and Councilwoman Linda Berry did not attend the meeting at the Mt. Jewett Memorial Library.
Lannen said the budget holds the line on taxes during “tough economic times.”
After the meeting, Paar said he is “disappointed” that council had to tap its reserve funds to balance the budget. But he said this action is justified because “that’s what reserves are for.”
Paar said the budget enables the borough to “maintain services” without raising property taxes.
“I see no reason to raise taxes,” Paar said last month in supporting a budget that retains the same tax rate as this year.
During work on the 2010 budget, council discussed the feasibility of increasing the work week for Police Officer Nataliya Miroslavna from 30 hours to 40 hours.
This action would have increased borough expenses and probably would have required a property tax hike.
“We just couldn’t do it,” Paar said Monday. He said it would be “tough to justify the added expense” of a full-time police officer.
The budget calls for the borough to dip into its reserves to come up with $7,000 for what has been called “full funding” for three accounts, including vehicle maintenance, traffic signs and street surfacing. The street account had been set for a $5,000 cut under the original no-tax-hike budget option. The use of reserves will raise this account back to $15,000.
In other business at the 72-minute meeting, council:
n Voted 3-1 to support “option 2” for the construction of one unisex handicapped accessible bathroom at the library. The project is funded under the federal community-development program. Lannen, who cast the lone negative vote, favors a different proposal for the project.
n Tabled the appointment of a member of the Mt. Jewett Borough Water Authority for a five-year term.
The term of Mike Park, the current vice chairman of the authority, ends Dec. 31. He is interested in serving another term on the board. Mike West also has expressed an interest in serving on the volunteer board.
Both Park and West attended the council meeting.
Jim Troutman, chairman of the seven-member authority, told council that Park, an electrician, has helped cut costs by working on electrical issues at the water plant.
West reportedly works with water systems in his profession. West admitted that he does travel out-of-town frequently, but could juggle his schedule to attend authority meetings. He said he would be “more than willing” to assist the water authority even if he isn’t chosen to serve on the board.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 December 2009 )
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