2020 Pottstown Budget Would Raise Taxes by 4.25%

Photos by Evan Brandt

If you had three hours to kill last night, you would have struggled to find a more productive way to spend it than by attending the borough council work session.

A wide variety of important topics were discussed, including the budget and the future of the Ricketts Community Center.

But first let's have some fun.

This year is the 100th anniversary of the Dana Corp, whose Spicer division plant is still going strong on Center Street in the borough.

Last night, council provided a proclamation honoring the company for its longevity, how many people it has employed and all it has done for Pottstown.

Here's the video:



Also always fun is Mayor Stephanie Henrick's monthly report, always chock full of activities and good news. Here's that video:



And what council meeting blog would be complete without the accompanying video of Borough Manager Justin Keller's gripping monthly report. Here's that video:


Now that we're got that under our belt, here's what I'm going to do.

It's already after midnight and there is no way for me to do justice to all the things that happened last night. So I will attempt to do justice to one -- the $45.3 million budget.

Improvements to the borough budget as a result of the EIP study.

The news appears to be comparatively good, at least when you compare it with the last two budgets that brought  11 percent and 9 percent tax hikes respectively.

With property values rising, fewer assessment challenges are successful and property transfer tax revenues are more than expected because Pottstown properties are not lingering on the real estate market.

The borough even got a break in terms of tax-exempt properties, which actually went down by 13 parcels in 2019, many of them due to the return of the YMCA property on North Adams Street.

If all 313 of the tax-exempt parcels in the borough (except school district and borough-owned properties), were back on the tax rolls, the borough would enjoy another $1.8 million in annual revenues.

Bottom line? The draft budget outlined last night would raise property taxes by 4.25 percent if adopted unchanged. And it appears there is a possibility council may act on this budget at its Monday night meeting.

This chart shows that taxpayers' unfunded liability for paying health
care costs for retired police and long-time managers is $28.4 million

Good news aside, Pottstown's finances still face challenges, not the least of which are pension liabilities and the $28 million unfunded liability of health benefits for retired police officers and long-time managers.

Borough Manager Justin Keller said some progress has been on that front, with the new contract for non-uniformed workers included a clause that will put all new employees in a "defined contribution" pension plan, similar to at 401K plan, instead of the traditional and more expensive "defined benefit" pension plan.

The borough must also create a capital expense plan said Keller and Finance Director Janice Lee, advice offered both by a bond rating service and by the Early Intervention Program report offered this spring.

The proposed budget calls for $100,000 to be transferred into the fund to begin saving for things like

All but one of Pottstown's fire trucks are 10 years old or older.

new police cars, new fire trucks and, perhaps most significantly from a cost standpoint, the borough's crumbling stormwater arches.

As it does every year, the borough is going to ask owners of tax exempt properties if they would like to make a "payment in lieu of taxes." New this year, will be an offer to allow them to instead made a direct contribution to something on the capital budget list of needs.

For example, in 2017, The Hill School donated $200,000 to the borough specifically to pay for new police cars.

If adopted unchanged, the 2020 budget's tax hike would result in a $46 increase for a property  assessed at $85,000 or $54 increase for home assessed at $100,000, said Lee.

And now I will bid you all good night. If you're looking for me, check out the Tweets from the meeting here:

Dana at 100, Census, Budget and Ricketts Center

Building a Better Foundation in Pottstown Education

From left, Joe Rusiewicz, Tracey Brown, Barbara Bushey Ernico, Sue Bradley Trout, Virginia Frantz and Charlie Palladino were on hand for the presentation of a $10,000 check to the Foundation for Pottstown Education. 

Whether its paying for students to take Advance Placement Exams, launching students into college careers with a year under their belt, or supporting science education, the Foundation for Pottstown Education has been busy this spring

Most recently the foundation received $15,000 in contributions from two different sources.

Dana Incorporated, Pottstown location made a $5,000 contribution to the Foundation for Pottstown Education supporting their initiatives to the education of the students in the district.

Plant Manager, Danny Aaron and Environmental Health and Safety Manager Jason Pregel were on hand to present the check to Foundation Board President, Tracy Brown.

In presenting the check Aaron stated that it was in recognition of the work that the Foundation is doing to promote education and specifically in the area of science education.

Each year, the Dana Foundation allocates funds to each of their plants tasking them with selection

From left, Jason Pregel, Tracey Brown and Danny Aaron from Dana.

of local not-for-profits as the recipients of the funding and the Foundation for Pottstown Education was one of the organizations selected by the Dana plant in Pottstown to receive the funds this year.

On April 27, the foundation got another financial shot in the arm, thanks to the efforts of the Pottstown High School Class of 1967,

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the class along with the Montgomery Community Foundation and an anonymous donor presented the Foundation with a check for $10,000 in support of the Early College Program.

Called Pottstown Promise, the program which provides scholarships for Pottstown High School students to take college courses in their junior and senior years at Montgomery County Community College.

The fund’s remaining $10,000 is a permanent fund that will produce income for special education projects of the Pottstown schools.

Preparing for their 50th Class Reunion in 2017, classmates of Pottstown High School Class of 1967 began to raise money for a class gift. They decided to establish The PHS Alumni Fund at The Montgomery County Foundation, Inc. 

A total of $20,000 has been now been raised through the efforts of members of PHS Class of 1967 for the PHS Alumni Fund. The first $10,000 was raised from classmates.

The $10,000 check was presented to the Foundation Board President Tracey Brown and Executive Director, Joe Rusiewicz at the Board’s April meeting.

Class members Barbara Bushey Ernico and Sue Bradley Trout were on hand to present the check along with Montgomery Community Foundation’s Executive Director, Virginia Frantz.

And if you were wondering where that money goes, look no further than this month's AP exams.

When Pottstown High School counselors were asking when they received notice that the funding which was previously awarded to the students to pay the costs of taking AP exams was cut this year and would not be available, Guidance Counselor, Amanda Scholwinski applied to the Foundation for Pottstown Education for a grant to cover this shortfall.

The Foundation’s Board of Directors unanimously approved this grant for $5,400. ensuring more than 100 students the ability to take the tests and possibly earn college credit before they enter the college of their choice.

AP exams are college-level tests administered by The College Board (makers of the SAT).

Students may take tests in one or more subjects. The AP courses and exams can help put students on the fast track to a college degree, giving them the chance to earn college credit while still in high school—not to mention strengthening their college applications.

According to research by The College Board, students who take AP courses do better in college than those who don’t. In fact, students who take AP exams in high school are 62 percent more likely to graduate from college in four years, and avoid having to pay for extra semesters. 

Because they are more challenging and require more work than regular high school classes, AP courses help students prepare for the rigors of college coursework.

The tests are taken by in May with results given to the students in July. The tests have two parts, multiple choices and a free response essay. 

How well the student score on these test help individual schools determine whether the students receive college credit, advanced placements or both. 

The Foundation for Pottstown Education is a not for profit organization that raises funds to help support opportunities for the students in the Pottstown School District.

These funds are raised through grants, corporate and individual gifts as well as the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program through the State’s Department of Community and Economic Development. The EITC program enables approved businesses the opportunity to make a donation to an approved not for profits in exchange for a 75-90 percent tax credit.

Holiday Drive Kicks off 26th Year

Submitted photo

Toy donations are collected at the Dana plant in Pottstown for the annual holiday drive.

Organizers are gearing up for the 26th annual holiday toy and food drive to benefit under-priviledged families and donations of toys, food and funds are being sought.

Organizer Jim Frymoyer, who began the tradition as a member of the Moose Lodge and is now continuing it with the help of the Manatawny Association and the Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 626, said last year’s drive helped 59 families and the goal this year is to help 65.

“Overall, we’re hoping to touch the lives of 332 people,” he said.

Frymoyer stopped by The Mercury last week.

The effort has several moving parts, with some families getting a food basket with a ham, a turkey, eggs, milk, potatoes and more as well as toys for the children; some families just receiving toys for the children and a holiday part at the Norco Firehouse on Dec. 21; and two scholarships being given out, one in honor of Frymoyer’s son, who died this year of pneumonia.

There are also numerous sponsors as well as numerous ways and places the community can lend a hand.

One of the more visible are the “Angel Trees” set up at 15 different locations in the wider community where either food, or toys or both can be donated.

Each tree has angels, each representing a boy or girl of a specified age and those who take an angel off the tree attach it to a toy to be donated.

Angel trees are located at the following locations. All locations will accept toys and food donations unless otherwise noted:

• Dana Holding Corp.: 1040 Center Ave., Pottstown;

• Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 626: 924 South St., Pottstown;

• Ivy Inn, 7 Brookline Blvd, Havertown;

• Manatawny Association, 20 King St., Pottstown;

• Piazza Honda, 629 N. Lewis Road, Limerick;

• Piazza Hyundai, 84 Auto Park Blvd., Limerick;

• Sea Star Solutions, 640 Lewis Road, Limerick;

• Sign Krafters, 1392 Ben Franklin Highway, Douglassville (food only);

• T & N Hair Salon, 1220 N. Hanover St., Pottstown (food only);

• Tim’s Ugly Mug Bar & Grill, 1281 E. Main St., Douglassville (toys only);

• Traffic Planning & Design, 2500 E. High St., No. 650, Pottstown;

• Tri-County Toyota, 15 D & L Drive, Limerick (toys only);

• U.S. Axle, Inc., 275 Shoemaker Road, Pottstown;

• Vito’s NY Style Pizza and Grill, 569 W. High St., Pottstown (food only);

• Spring-Ford Diner, 55 E. Bridge St., Spring City (toys only).

Monetary donations can be mailed to James Frymoyer, project coordinator, at 422 Upland St., G-1, Pottstown, PA 19464 and those donations earmarked for toys, food or the scholarship should be noted as such. Those who wish to volunteer should call 484-363-0638.

A pile of freshly wrapped presents made many children happy last year.

Frymoyer said the families who benefit are selected by children and youth agencies in all three counties, as well as by some of the businesses which sponsor the drive and by organizations such as Pottstown Memorial Medical Center, The Cluster of Religious Communities and VNA Hospice.

Former district judge John Durkin helped Frymoyer get connected with the children and youth agencies, Frymoyer said, adding he gets a lot of help from prime sponsors like both Piazza car dealerships, Tri-County Honda, and those who help anyway they can, such the United Auto Workers No. 644, with whom Frymoyer worked for many years at Dana, and Diamond Credit Union, which last year gift wrapped the 750 to 800 toys that were given away.

“I’ve had people come up to me and donated a toy, telling me that their son or daughter wanted one of their Christmas presents to go to a needy child, it can be really heart-wrenching,” Frymoyer said.

Equally as heart-wrenching is the death of a child, something Frymoyer underwent this year with the passing of his son, James Frymoyer Jr., a 1997 graduate of Pottsgrove High School.

It is in his name that one of the two scholarships will be given to a Pottsgrove High School football player. The other will be given to a Perkiomen Valley High School football player chosen by coach Scott Reed, whose cousin, the late Shawn Reed, played football at the former St. Pius X High School, graduating in 2000.

Submitted Photo

Jim Frymoyer with some of the food baskets packed up for delivery at the Manatawny Association last year.

The scholarship fund will give out $6,500 from money that was collected last year.

The money collected this year will go to a scholarship for a Spring-Ford High School athlete in the name of former Mercury Sports Editor Don Seeley, a Spring-Ford alum who died this year shortly after retiring more than 30 years covering sports in the Pottstown area.

“When my son was sick, Don called me every day to check on him,” Frymoyer said.

The holiday effort will culminate late in the year when the food baskets are distributed from the Manatawny Association on Dec. 20 and the holiday party is held for 150 children and their families on Dec. 21.

“We’ve got balloons, face-painting, country singer Stephanie Grace is going to sing, a magician, hot dogs, pizza, soda, cup cakes and ice cream — and of course, Santa,” Frymoyer said.

“They’re just doing great work,” Pottstown Mayor Bonnie Heath said Wednesday of the undertaking and the party, which she and Borough Council President Stephen Toroney attended last year.

“It’s a great thing they’re doing,” echoed Council Vice President Jeff Chomnuk.