Lehighton adopts next year’s budget with 1.5-mill increase

Lehighton residents will have to pay out a little more in their municipal tax rates next year.

On a unanimous measure, borough council agreed on Monday to adopt the 2019 budget with a 1.5-mill increase.

Of that, 1 mill will be allotted toward the general fund, while a half-mill will be utilized toward the fire department equipment investment account to increase the total annual contribution of $80,000 toward fire equipment based on the fire department’s strategic plan.

Council’s decision will raise the millage rate to 9.5 mills, which means that a homeowner with a home assessed at $50,000 will pay $475, or $75 more, to the borough next year in taxes.

Earlier this month, borough Manager Nicole Beckett said numerous cuts were made in working with each department head.

Beckett said at that time personnel costs represent a large portion of the budget to cover the costs of administration, public works, police, recreation and the Light & Power departments.

She said the borough’s police department budget has increased nearly $185,000, which represents 34 percent of the total general fund allocation of $1,643,068.

Additionally, Beckett said the proposed assistant borough manager position ($65,000) and public works storage building ($37,000) are allocated in the budget if council decides to proceed with those next year.

Beckett said the 2019 budget will serve as a blueprint into the next year and the future, as the borough has various projects ongoing, and has also allocated funding to cover existing projects.