Walnutport to advertise 2020 budget with 1-mill increase

Walnutport will advertise next year’s spending plan with a 1-mill increase, though borough officials stressed it should be able to come down.

On a 6-1 vote, borough council on Thursday agreed to advertise the 2020 preliminary budget under those parameters. Councilwoman Patrice Hunsicker was opposed.

Before the vote, Councilwoman Jennifer Wentz told council it was in their best interest to start high, adding that they can always come down as the process plays itself out.

“Unfortunately, we’re looking at a deficit for next year,” Wentz said. “(But), we still have some outstanding tax money coming into the borough.”

However, Wentz noted that just because council was advertising the budget with a millage increase doesn’t necessarily mean it will actually shake out that way.

“It’s still questionable; if we come in underneath that, great,” she said. “I think it will come in under that.”

Council President William Turk agreed with Wentz that no one on council wants to raise taxes next year.

“None of us do,” Turk said. “It’s not what we want, it’s what we have to do (right now).”

After the meeting, Wentz said health insurance costs, as well as wage increases, are among the borough’s biggest expenses.

In December, council unanimously adopted this year’s spending plan with no increase, which left the tax rate at 18.75 mills.