Summit Hill OKs 0.5-mill tax increase

By RON GOWER

TNEDITOR@TNONLINE.COM

Summit Hill residents will see a slight increase in their borough taxes next year.

On Monday, borough council passed its 2018 budget, which calls for a 0.5-mill tax increase.

The budget is based on 16.1 mills, up from 15.6 mills in the 2017 budget.

This marks the first increase since the borough built a new municipal building, fire station and community center. It was completed in 2010.

In 2014, the council reduced the tax rate by a quarter of a mill — from 15.85 mills to present rate of 15.6 mills.

Kira Steber, secretary-treasurer for the borough, said council agreed to raise the millage because expenses have increased and real estate taxes are not making up the difference.

The increase is in the general fund, where the rate jumps from 13.6 mills to 14.1 mills. The new rate means a resident with a home assessed at $30,000 will pay about $15 more in municipal property tax in 2018.

Steber added that the additional millage is not going to fund anything in particular, just operating expenses the borough incurs throughout the year.

The new budget is based on receipts and expenses of $1,602,788, which include increases in salaries and insurances. The 2017 budget was balanced at $1,551,188.

Council member John O’Gurek was absent from the meeting.

Tax collection

In other business, Steber said new computer software has been purchased for the tax collector, which will assist with billing.

She said the new software will allow the borough office to have access to tax bills, allowing the office personnel to check on such things as delinquencies.

The software was purchased from Berks County Intermediate Unit at an estimated cost of $4,155.

The fee won’t be due until tax revenue arrives in the spring.

The fee includes such things as mailing, tax bills, supplements and envelopes.

Other business

Councilman David Wargo proposed changes to the borough’s handicapped parking ordinance.

Action was tabled until the solicitor, attorney Michael Greek, can review the suggestions.

Among them are specific penalties for noncompliance and additional penalties if an individual obtains handicapped parking privileges through fraudulent actions.

The proposal also states that individuals permanently handicapped won’t have to file a new application every year. Instead, the individual with the handicapped parking privileges will only have to provide minimum information to the borough on an annual basis.

The council said it will hold its reorganization meeting at 7 p.m. on Jan. 3 in the borough hall.