No tax increase in Tamaqua

Tamaqua Borough Council approved a tentative budget for advertisement that does not include a tax increase for residents of the borough, but does include a $90,000 (about one and one quarter mill) shortfall. Council members and borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt said they are working to close that gap.

Although no specifics were mentioned, council indicated there are still ways to cut the budget through saving opportunities and personnel decisions that will be made over the course of the next year.

Later in the meeting, council discussed the possibility of entering into an electricity purchasing program that could result in a net savings.

“I’m getting good reports, but we won’t know until we put it out there,” Steigerwalt said.

Councilman Brian Connely said that due to recent improvements at the water and sewer plant, the electricity consumption has been cut approximately in half over the past year.

Council will also see some income from Schuylkill County related to the wintertime maintenance of several county bridges in the borough.

Previously this was not covered by the county, but Steigerwalt said that during a recent discussion with county personnel, an agreement of $50 per hour for maintenance of the bridges could be submitted for reimbursement.

Council approved the hiring of Eddie Rodriguez as a part-time police officer.

They moved to purchase a Hofmann Geodyna 7200S wheel-balancing machine at a cost of $4,300.

Councilman Ron Bowman said the borough’s current machine is not capable of handling certain sizes and doesn’t have much life left in it. Council opted to sell the old machine online through Municibid.