By Audrey Levine Staff Writer
But councilman says many items already reduced in $13.4 million plan
Several residents attended Monday’s Borough Council meeting to do what they didn’t do at last month’s special meeting when the Borough Council approved a $13.4 million budget, questioning why more cuts hadn’t been made to lower taxes.
In the budget approved Aug. 20, the borough cut more than $1 million in the anticipated amount to be raised by taxes from $9,256,241.72 to $8,230,724.72.
Despite the cut, the municipal tax rate is rising 11.5 cents from last year, from 59.4 cents per $100 in assessed property value, to about 70.9 cents, a 19.4 percent increase.
The average property tax bill for borough spending is rising about $330 for residents with homes assessed at the boroughwide average of $300,000, from $1,770 in 2007, to $2,100 in 2008.
The budget introduced in March originally projected the municipal tax bill to increase $600 per year.
John Mehalick, of Dominic Street, said he believes the borough could cut even more, and is just giving money away by awarding it for such projects as library recarpeting, which cost the borough more than $59,000.
”I think the mayor and council don’t understand their job in this town,” he said. “With the last raise in taxes, it’s too much.”
Among other concerns, Mr. Mehalick questioned the salary increases for borough employees through promotions to different jobs.
Borough Clerk Phil Petrone said that the borough is required, under contracts with different organizations and through the state, to offer certain salaries, and that cannot change because of the contracts.
Councilman Ted Petrock, who is also chairman of the Finance Committee, said the money from the $4.9 million sale of the Elizabethtown Water Co., which was used to relieve tax burdens for six years, is gone and consequently, the borough has to make up the difference with more money from taxpayers.
”The only alternative is cutting positions and services,” he said. “We don’t have the revenue anymore, and we are trying to keep taxes as low as we possibly can. We have to catch ourselves up.”
Rich Onderko, of Louis Street, an independent candidate for the Borough Council, said that, if the borough could eliminate $1 million from the budget, there is a chance it could eliminate $2 million or more.
”I’m telling you we have to tighten our belts,” Mr. Mehalick said.
Among the cuts made in the 2008 budget were a reduction in the police department by three officers, creation of shared services agreements throughout the county, and the restructuring of the borough’s Construction Code officewith part-time employees in an effort to save $60,000 annually.
In addition, the borough returned flood- and creosote-affected properties to former assessed values.
In a statement from the borough, the Finance Committee said it reduced spending on all departmental budgets to 2007 levels. From this action, the borough was able to remain below the state-mandated cap on spending while still meeting contracted increases.
”We’re canceling a lot of things, too,” Mr. Petrock said, in reference to the borough’s recent cancellation of certain events, including Community Day.
Overall, the budget was lowered from $13,777,290, when it was initially, introduced, to $13,474,290, which is a 0.7 percent increase, or about $97,428, over the approved 2007 budget of $13,376,862.
Mr. Mehalick also questioned whether the borough is awarding too much money for certain borough services, including the library and the recreation department.
Borough Administrator Gary Garwacke said the borough is giving the amount of money that is mandated by the state for such services.
Still, Mr. Mehalick called on the Borough Council to understand that they work for, and are chosen by, the residents of the town. He said there are people who are having difficulty paying the taxes and will continue to have problems with the recent rise.
”We put you in office to work for us,” he said directly to the council. “The only alternative is the taxpayers will vote you out.”

