Palmerton council proposes a tax credit for emergency workers

Palmerton’s borough council approved the advertisement of a tax credit for emergency workers during Thursday’s meeting.

Vice President Kris Hoffner presented the ordinance, which allows either an earned income tax credit or a property tax credit for volunteer service members including firefighters and emergency medical workers.

The credit was developed with Carbon County’s Council of Governments, and will allow for a maximum credit of $150 per year to those volunteers who fit the criteria for an active service member.

Other business

The board approved tax rates for 2018, with no change from the 2017 rates, at 11.77 mills. The general purposes tax rate is set at 8.78 mills, with the recreation purposes rate set at 0.74 mills and the debt reduction purposes rate set for 2.25 mills.

The $10 per capita tax rate, 1 percent earned income tax rate, 1 percent real estate transfer tax rate, $52 local services tax, and mechanical devices tax were re-enacted for 2018 as well.

The police pension plan was amended to include an Act 44 Retirement Plan. The included deferred retirement option plan would allow officers who are eligible for retirement to continue working while storing their pension distribution in an interest-bearing trust. The funds are available to the officer within 45 days of leaving the DROP program as either a lump sum or a tax sheltered rollover distribution.