Perryopolis’ 2010 budget would hold line on taxes
PERRYOPOLIS – Perryopolis Borough Council voted Thursday to approve a tentative 2010 budget that does not call for a property tax increase. Council approved the budget with a 6-0 vote. Councilman Garrett Hoose was absent.
The borough’s property tax rate stands at 2.451 mills, according to borough officials. At that rate, property owners pay $24.51 for every $10,000 of assessed property value.
Ron Lombard, chairman of council’s budget and finance committee, anticipates the borough having revenue of $528,610 and expenditures of $526,273 next fiscal year, leaving a $2,337 surplus to carry over to the following year.
A $2,000 carryover is “not fiscally sound,” declared council President Charles Johnson.
“If something (unexpected) occurs, we’re up the creek. We can’t cut insurance, the electric bill,” he said.
Lombard said he accepted the budget “with a heavy heart.”
“We can’t go another year like this,” said Lombard. “We need to get some extra income, and there are some possibilities I’m looking into.”
Borough officials plan to pursue official figures on the amount of funding they can expect to receive from the Mary Fuller Frazier estate.
Johnson said the borough received half of its normal distribution from the estate because of poor market conditions, which resulted in general cuts throughout the borough’s budget and drawing the line on unnecessary purchases. Johnson called for a meeting between council members and estate representatives in the spring.
Meanwhile, a 3 percent wage increase for the borough’s two full-time police officers is included in the proposed budget. According to borough secretary Colleen Pontoriero, the percentage would result in an estimated $2,000 wage increase for the police officers in 2010.
Borough officials do not anticipate a tax increase with adoption of the final budget in December. State law requires the borough’s budget to be adopted by Dec. 31.
In other business, council:
n Voted to purchase a hydraulic plow truck at an approximate cost of $70,000 using state liquid fuels money.
n Extended burn days for borough residents. Leaves and grass clippings may be burned during Saturdays in November because most Saturdays in October were rainy. Garbage should not be burned, said Johnson.
n Announced the borough will hand out Christmas treats on Sunday, Dec. 13, although Santa Claus may not make an appearance because the borough’s Santa costume was loaned to someone who never returned the suit. A police report has been filed and the police are looking into the matter, said Johnson.
n Learned that the Fayette County Tourism Alliance awarded a $6,000 grant to the Perryopolis Parks and Recreation Authority for the rewiring and a renovation of the interior of the State Bank Building, which houses the town’s museum. Norene Halvonik, member of the parks and recreation authority, announced the news Thursday.
n Heard from borough resident Roy Giovannelli, who requested that council correct a water runoff problem he claims is affecting homes on Janet Street.
Giovannelli expressed disappointment because council members haven’t pursued grant money to correct the problem, noting that Fairchance Borough Council recently received a grant to improve storm water drainage in the municipality.
“I’ve been through Fairchance and I don’t think it’s that affluent of a community,” Giovannelli said. “The news (regarding the availability of grant funding to correct water-related problems) seems different from what I have heard from council.”