Summit Hill to increase taxes 1.4 mills

For the second consecutive year, Summit Hill Borough Council said it is forced to increase taxes.

The council gave approval to a tentative budget calling for a tax hike of 1.4 mills for general purposes.

Last year, the borough council raised taxes 1.5 mills, also for general purposes.

The tentative budget was passed by a 6-1 vote of the council Monday night. Adoption of the final budget is planned for the Dec. 16 meeting of the council.

The only opposing vote was from council member Karen Ruzicka.

Council President Michael Kokinda said increases in fixed expenses is the main reason for the budget increase.

“Costs just keep going up,” he said.

Debra Ranck, a member of the council, said, “We went through this (the budget) line for line. We did our due diligence this year. We tried to find every penny we could save.”

Ruzicka said after the meeting she was opposed to the budget because she feels the council should be working hard to find sources of revenue.

“I agree 100 percent they tried to keep expenses down,” she said.

Kokinda said, “We went over everything.”

Ruzicka agreed and said, “There’s no more that we can cut.”

Councilman David Wargo said that if ways to avoid the tax increase are found, the budget can be reopened in January.

In other business, the council said it will advertise for a new solicitor.

The current solicitor is attorney Michael Greek, who won the contest for Carbon County District Attorney in the November election.

Kokinda thanked Greek for his years of service to the borough.

Greek said he has served for nine years. He was appointed to replace Joseph Matika when Matika was elected to a judgeship in Carbon County.

Greek said, “It’s been a pleasure being here.”