Perryopolis accepts tentative budget for 2017
PERRYOPOLIS — At its regular monthly meeting Wednesday, borough council unanimously voted to accept a proposed budget for 2017 as presented by the finance committee.
The proposed budget would require no property tax increase, keeping the millage rate at 3.701 if adopted.
The tentative budget calls for total income of $838,253 and total expenditures of $825,277, resulting in what would be a net gain of $12,976.
“Look at the borough tax, and you’ll see it’s not all that bad compared to your other couple of taxes that’s on there,” Councilman Bob Zundel said, adding that the tentative budget was available for public review.
Prior to accepting the proposed borough budget, council received a positive audit report from J.R. Elias and Drew Dupont from McClure & Wolf.
Elias reported that the borough had approximately $106,000 in the cash account of its general fund and $16,000 in its liquid fuels account.
Later, council voted to authorize Council President Paul Black to sign a lease agreement for offices leased out to Rep. Ryan Warner, R-Perryopolis, who was elected to a second term as state representative for the 52nd District Tuesday. After the meeting, borough Secretary and Treasurer Colleen Pontoriero added that the borough leases two offices to Warner for $500 monthly.
In other business, council also unanimously requested that PennDOT conduct a study on whether a stop or yield sign should be added at the intersection of Washington Square and Independence Street , though not without extensive discussion on the subject.
Mayor Charles “Bud” Petrosky initially requested the study, and several councilmen said that speeding motorists going through the stop signs in town was an issue.
“That’s a roundabout,” Petrosky said of the town circle. “People in a roundabout have the right of way. So you get an out-of-towner that comes in here, they don’t know that. But you’ve got a free ride from the light all the way through town, and you know damn well what speed they’re going.”
Additionally, council announced that its Christmas event will be 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 3, with Santa Claus slated to be at the borough building from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. to pass out treats.
Council also announced that its December regular meeting will be 7 p.m. Dec. 15 instead of its usual meeting slot, the second Wednesday of every month.