Council approves 2018 budget with no tax increase

BIRDSBORO » Birdsboro Borough Council agreed at a recent meeting to advertise the proposed 2018 municipal budget that will not require a tax hike.

The highlight of the budget included no tax increase to residents, a lineitem for major equipment for the parks will come down to $12,500, the salary line-item for administrative staff will reflect a 4 percent increase in salary, and line-item for bulletproof vests will increase $7,500.

“The overall budget is going to use roughly $132,000 of carryover from this year’s leftover balances,” said Borough Manager Aaron Durso.

There was a motion made to amend the administrative salary to 3.4 percent but failed a vote 4-3 with Mayor Joseph A. Peterson being the deciding vote. Those in favor of the amendment were council members Richard Happel, Neil McCauley and Robert Myers.

“The people this effects do a fantastic job for our municipality and have done, especially Aaron, have done things over the last couple of years that has created tremendous opportunity for our municipality,” said Peterson.

In additional borough news, Durso announced there would be a public meeting on Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. at Birdsboro Borough Hall to discuss the cable television franchise agreement. Every 10 years the agreement is renewed. The public meeting is a joint meeting of the municipalities of Exeter Township, Birdsboro and Amity Township.

Durso also disclosed that Birdsboro would be featured in a future publication of Pennsylvania Borough News magazine.

Vice President Cindy McGee announced The 9th Annual Christmas in Birdsboro is Dec. 9 and vendors are still being accepted.

Council members accepted the resignation of Councilman Steve Lusky. Before approving the resignation, council President David Blank noted he was “accepting with regret.” Residents interested in filling the vacant position needs to submit their resume to Borough Hall by the end of business, Thursday, Nov. 30.