tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643059131542878847.post6443268717904760418..comments2023-07-09T04:51:26.464-04:00Comments on Chronicling Elizabethtown: Borough Council approves draft 2011 budgetJeff McCloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15037934095045982855noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643059131542878847.post-26074571873871919902010-11-24T12:47:24.303-05:002010-11-24T12:47:24.303-05:00Steve -- Thanks for your comments.
About your que...Steve -- Thanks for your comments.<br /><br />About your questions in the budget: The $130,000 for street lights that you asked about was moved to another line item. It is at the end of the General Fund budget – Transfer to Street Light Fund. We created the Street Light Fund this year to manage the new street light program and keep track of the anticipated savings the program has proposed. <br /> <br />The paving costs are in the Liquid Fuels Fund -- we receive revenue from the state's liquid fuels tax, and we use that money exclusively for street paving. Street paving is not paid out of the General Fund.<br /><br />I'd like to address your second post: Last year, we had a long and vociferous discussion about raising taxes or not. Some of us were in favor of a small tax increase last year so that we wouldn't be in this situation this year. The first motion to approve the final budget last December included a small tax increase (what that was I don't remember), and the vote was tied 3-3. Former Mayor Robert Brain cast the deciding vote against the tax increase. On the next motion -- not to raise taxes -- one councilman changed his vote, and it passed 4-2. <br /><br />There was clearly disagreement last year. I was on the losing side of both votes because I felt that a small tax increase was in the best interest of the long-term health of the borough.<br /><br />This is one of those philosophical issues that comes up, especially during budgeting season.Jeff McCloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15037934095045982855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643059131542878847.post-68900877377900058802010-11-24T10:05:53.520-05:002010-11-24T10:05:53.520-05:00I find it sad but interesting that Borough Council...I find it sad but interesting that Borough Council apparently was pleased about not raising taxes last year and now find themselves instituting what amounts to an extremely high percentage increase in property taxes during poor economic times. <br />I have examined the proposed general budget and believe there are items that could still be cut and other ways to reduce that proposed tax increase. I accept the fact taxes must increase. I wish the Council had realized that fact last year and made gentler increases for the services we need. Taxes are the dues Americans must pay as citizens. Please make those increases easier than your current proposal.Steve Kistlernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643059131542878847.post-63970943765095356462010-11-24T09:50:56.859-05:002010-11-24T09:50:56.859-05:00Jeff, I reviewed the budget and have a couple of q...Jeff, I reviewed the budget and have a couple of questions. <br />#1: The proposed budget drops street light expenses from around $130,000 in 2010 to $0 in 2011. Can you explain that drop? The ladies at the office could not.<br />#2: I could not find line items in the general budget for street paving projects and would like to see that budget. Again, the ladies in the office, though as helpful as they could be, did not have that information.Steve Kistlernoreply@blogger.com