Carmichaels council proposes budget with no tax hike
CARMICHAELS – At the regular meeting Thursday, the council passed a tentative 2004 budget that would hold in place a tax rate that has remained unchanged for more than 10 years. Under the .285-mill rate, taxpayers pay $28.50 for every $10,000 in assessed property value.
Total expenditures for the borough were calculated at $98,493, with total revenue at $116,272.
Borough secretary Mary Lewis said streets are the biggest expense, totaling around $28,900 in spending, with $1,700 of that amount going to the electric bill for lighting the streetlamps year-round.
The only change made from an earlier draft budget would raise the four borough employees’ cost-of-living wage by 2 percent, an hourly increase that averages out to around 21 to 30 cents. Councilman John Paletta said the increase is “proper” and added that many government workers recently received cost-of-living increases.
Also in the tentative plan, despite a request for a large donation from the Flenniken Public Library, the council has proposed the usual $200.
The board scheduled a meeting to pass the final budget Thursday, Dec. 18, at 6:30 p.m. in the borough building.
The council also conducted the following business:
– Approved a request from park board member Dave Vrana to place signs at the Ceylon Road/Route 88 and Route 88/Fair Street intersections to advertise Wana B Park.
– Announced free parking in the borough from Dec. 21 to Jan. 5.
– Scheduled a reorganization meeting for Jan. 5 at 7 p.m.