Nov 13, 2003 By Amanda Clegg 3 min read

FAIRCHANCE – During their regular meeting Wednesday, borough council members passed a tentative 2004 budget that would increase taxes “by fractions,” according to a councilwoman. Councilwoman Dora Miller explained that if the council approves the proposed budget, residents would pay $1.08 for every $1,000 in assessed property value, a half-cent more than they do this year.

The tentative budget allows $399,368 for the water fund, $361,784 for the general fund and $63,804 for liquid fuels, Miller said.

President Herb Myers said after Fairchance reduced its tax rate to 1.075 mills in conjunction with the countywide reassessment that went into effect this year, the borough lost money.

“Through the reassessment, property values on a whole did not generate enough revenue for us to operate,” he said. “We were losing money.”

Leslie Riggin, executive secretary, said increasing the millage to 1.080 will “get us back to our 2002 revenue.”

The tentative budget allowed for loan payments to National City Bank, water treatment plant repairs and a new garbage truck for the borough, Riggin said.

Myers added that although the borough applied for a $5,000 grant through state Sen. Richard Kasunic, D-Dunbar, last year, no new grants were figured into the tentative budget.

Myers said the largest amount of money in the tentative budget funds the water treatment plant.

“We spend more money on the day-to-day operation of the water plant than anywhere else,” he said.

In other matters, the council voted to remove the bleachers at the Fairchance playground.

Myers said there was no money to purchase new bleachers, but a letter from an insurance provider directed the borough to remove the bleachers and the merry-go-round for safety issues. Council members agreed to investigate applying for a grant to update playground equipment.

The council also conducted the following business:

– Denied accusations brought by Jim Baranowski. Baranowski, a retired police officer, applied for a position in the borough’s police department, but did not receive it because former officer Brian Miller returned from medical leave, council members said.

Baranowski claimed derogatory comments about him were made during a council meeting.

The council told Baranowski that meeting minutes were open to the public and he was welcome to read them.

– After executive session, accepted a collective bargaining agreement for a union proposal.

– Reappointed Ralph Dawson to the sewage authority, retroactive to Oct. 10, for a three-year term.

– At the suggestion of residents, agreed to investigate the possibility of decorating the playground with white Christmas lights.