Taxes to rise 1/2 mill in Summit Hill

Summit Hill Borough Council tentatively approved its 2019 budget on Monday and agreed to raise taxes by a half mill.

The council voted 4-1 for the tax hike, the second tax increase within two years. Last year the borough raised taxes by one mill. There were no tax increases in at least four years before that.

The council also anticipates $28,000 in spending cuts.

As a result, the budget is balanced with receipts and expenses totaling $1,297,936.

Opposed to the tax hike was council member Karen Ruzicka. She said she was against the tax hike because the reason it’s needed is because too many residents are delinquent on paying their real estate taxes.

She said she doesn’t feel that people who pay their taxes should be penalized because of those who are delinquent.

In favor were council members Billy O’Gurek, David Wargo, Gregory Kosciolek and Sara Ruch. Council members Michael Kokinda and Debra Ranck weren’t present for the budget vote.

Final adoption is slated for the December meeting of the council.

The new budget brings the real estate tax rate to 17.1 mills. This includes 15.1 for general purposes, 1.5 mills for street lighting and 0.5 mills for fire allocation.

Wargo suggested that the council looking into a more aggressive method of collecting delinquent taxes.

He said it takes at least 36 months before a tax upset sale can occur. Often the process is delayed when payment plans are set up and then not followed.

The council said it will ask its solicitor, attorney Michael Greek, to look into alternatives.

It was noted earlier this month that as much as 10 percent of the real estate taxes due to the borough are delinquent.

In other business

• Michael Comisac and Deb Keer asked the council for relief on garbage fees. They said they purchased the former Bar-Vel Restaurant, which has two apartments, and are getting three garbage bills.

They said only one apartment is occupied. The other and the restaurant are not ready for occupancy.

The council said the previous owner of the restaurant had a dumpster and paid for a private trash collector for the bar, but was billed for trash collection for the two apartments.

The matter was referred to Greek.

• O’Gurek praised the work done by the borough crew during and after last week’s snowstorm.

• Christmas on the Hill will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 2. It is sponsored by the Summit Hill Recreation Commission.

• Wargo said a meet-and-greet session for business owners in the borough to discuss economic development will be held at 7 p.m. on Dec. 10 in the Hilltop Community Center.