Manager: Budget is on track after first quarter

It’s still early in the year, but after the end of the first quarter, the borough’s income and expenses are running around budget or a little better, Borough Manager Mike Coll said at Souderton Borough Council’s April 17 work session.

“What’s promising is earned income tax and local services taxes met the 25 percent mark, a little bit better than that,” Coll said.

With $219,969.98 collected from the earned income tax as of the end of March, 26.34 percent of the $835,000 budgeted for the year in that category had been received, the budget comparison showed. For the local services tax, the $23,021.93 received was 25.58 percent of the $90,000 budgeted for the year.

Real estate transfer taxes are also running ahead of budget, Coll said.

Budgeted at $100,000 for the year, the real estate transfer tax brought in $36,225.86 by the end of March, the figures showed.

Expenditures are generally running in line with budgeted amounts, Coll said.

The borough has a $3.5 million general fund budget for the year.

In another good financial sign, sewer user fees are running above budget, Coll said.

The half-year mark will give a better look at how the income and spending are stacking up in comparison to the budget, he said.

“Certainly, the second quarter is a far better indication of where we really stand,” Coll said.

In another matter at the meeting, council members said it looked as though there would be at least 50 volunteers, including Cub Scouts and youth sports members, at the borough’s cleanup day on Saturday, April 22.

“It sounds like we might have a bigger crew than we’ve ever had before,” council President Brian Goshow said.

“Happy problem,” council member Richard Halbom said.

While most of the work was planned for in or around Souderton Community Park, additional areas in other parts of town could be included, depending on the number of volunteers, council members said.

Council member Ned Leight said a group from Zion Mennonite Church is planning to do a cleanup at West Street Park May 6.