Slatington rejects fire tax increase, will readvertise 2018 budget

The borough of Slatington is racing to beat the budget clock for the upcoming year.

The council had voted at the end of November to advertise the proposed budget with expectation of fully adopting the 2018 numbers at the December meeting, but after a heated exchange, Borough Manager Judith Danko was instructed to got back to the drawing board and cut the 33 percent fire tax rate increase.

The fire tax rate for borough residents is 0.45 mills with the increase proposed to 0.60 mills.

“The insurances alone are almost $40,000,” Danko said.

“Plus the building maintenance, it doesn’t leave much for equipment,” she said.

Danko said the borough will have a balanced budget for 2018 without any other tax increase.

“We’re proud to be able to do that,” she said.

The borough has been facing financial uncertainty as a result of the 2017 audit which brought to light multiple misorganized account figures from the past several years.

However, during last week’s borough meeting, the budget was re-examined and voted down as was advertised.

Councilman Joe Wechsler told the board as the proposed budget stands, “Grouping it all together, it’s not going to fly.”

“There’s so many things in the fire budget that need to be addressed. Let’s take care of the taxpayers first,” he said.

“They (fire department) need to tighten their budget and take a few things out. Our money is not being used wisely at that building.”

“There is an extra $20,000 insurance increase this year,” Council President David Schnaars said.

Danko told the members a redraft would require a special meeting and a readvertisement.

“We’re paying money for these ordinances. The taxpayers are paying for this. At the last meeting the majority of the council agreed to this,” she said.

“It’s just a mimic of last year,” she said.

“No it’s not the same, there’s an increase,” Wechsler said.

“We voted on it at the special meeting,” Schnaars said.

“We were supposed to have three one-hour meetings but then Dave (Rachman, borough police chief) came in and the fire chief. This was all supposed to be hashed out by the manager and she was supposed to come back with recommendations,” Wechsler said.

“We hired a borough manager, she is supposed to come back to us with recommendations,” council member Jon Rinker said.

“This is our job,” said Councilman Jason Ruff.

“I hope you keep thinking that,” Rinker said.

Schnaars rapped the gavel to quiet down the exchange.

“I have no problem with anything but the fire increase,” Wechsler said.

“What we are talking about is the borough’s responsibility to provide fire protection,” Schnaars said.

“Building maintenance, equipment and insurances. That’s all that is being covered,” he said.

Danko stated again that the committee had advised her to advertise the proposed budget.

“It was known at the last meeting this was going to be advertised,” she said.

“Half of you people didn’t show up at the meetings,” he said.

Council member Bryon Reed informed the board of how the increase would break down for the volunteer fire company.

“The whole budget would be $103,000. It’s $43,000 for insurance, $15,000 is owed to the sewer account. That leaves $45,000 for equipment and maintenance,” he said.

Jason Nikolas said the amount would be just enough to cover expensive with nothing left over for future projects.

“We have an outdated furnace in dire need of being replaced. We can’t do that. We don’t have funding,” he said.

“I had asked last year for an increase and knew it wouldn’t happen. This year I spent two hours in the committee meeting and asked for a 0.1-mill increase. I felt that would be sufficient. That tax has been the same for 14 years and has never been increased. Historically each year we exceed the borough budget just on operational expenses alone,” he said.

“It forces us to do additional fundraising while also trying to get training done and still go out on calls. On Black Friday, I had six guys holding a coin toss for eight hours and just cleared $2,000,” he said.

“I’m just very disappointed in the decision. It’s frustrating, but that’s part of the responsibility I took on and I’m going to follow through,” he said.

The board voted to take out the fire tax increase and readvertise the budget, with a special meeting being held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday to vote on adopting the new figures.

The incoming board will have the power to reopen the budget and make changes after being sworn in during the Jan. 2 reorganization meeting.