Budget nearing final vote

Dec. 20 could bring approval for 2018 budget with tax hike

Final approval of a 2018 budget with a roughly 25 percent tax increase is now just two weeks away.

The Borough Council heard an update Wednesday night on plans to approve the borough’s budget, fee schedule, and tax ordinance, as talks continue on other initiatives that could impact the bottom line in 2018.

“We approved the advertisement of that (budget) last month, so it will be voted on, on the 20th. Nothing has been changed,” said councilman Jason Van Dame, chairman of council’s Administration and Finance committee.

Starting in October, council and staff have discussed the proposed 2018 budget, which originally included a deficit of roughly $611,000 of expenses over revenues, before any changes in local taxes. Total expenditures of a projected $47.2 million, against estimated revenues of $46.6 million, led staff to recommend an increase in real estate taxes of one mill, a hike of just below 25 percent over the current rate of 4.5 mills, and a roughly $120 increase for the average household. The last borough tax increase was approved in 2014 to take effect in

2015, and the new rate of 5.5 mills would result in an increase of roughly $120 onto the roughly $660 borough bill for the average taxpayer.

Plans in the works for 2018 include filling three police department vacancies

left by retirements, hiring a police accreditation manager to achieve accreditation per the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association guidelines, road repairs, infrastructure upgrades for the borough’s wastewater and electric departments, new and updated procedures for customer service and IT staff, and hiring of new employees for the borough manager

and police chief positions. Van Dame said this week that a manager selection could be announced at the Dec. 20 meeting, while a new police chief may not be announced until early 2018.

Last month council’s administration and finance committee began talks with the Fairmount Fire Company on how to implement an incentive for local

firefighters to join and stay with that fire company. Instead of a tax discount offered under the state’s Act 172 of 2016, the fire company has suggested the borough contribute to a stipend given to firefighters for responding to calls, and Van Dame said talks will continue on how to do so.

“What we currently do is nothing, and what the

fire company proposed would’ve cost the borough about $100,000 a year, so we are trying to incentivize the volunteers in some way, and just figure out a better way to do it,” Van Dame said.

Staff have also been evaluating in recent months the costs and benefits of changing the borough’s insurance carrier, and are currently evaluating the details of proposals from the Delaware Valley Insurance Trust and Univest Bank, according to Van Dame.

Lansdale Borough Council next meets at 7 p.m. on Dec. 20 at the borough municipal building, 1 Vine St. For more information or meeting agendas and materials visit www.Lansdale. org or follow @LansdalePA on Twitter.