A Manager Decision Delayed, 18% Tax Hike Looms

It was presentation-central at Pottstown Borough Council last night and I don't mind telling you that after being up until 3 a.m. putting election returns together, it was NOT appreciated.

In addition to staff awards, and a terminally boring presentation about cyber parking (see below), we also endured a presentation about next year's bike race as well as a project by the Greater Pottstown Tennis and Learning organization that will get refurbished tennis courts at Maple Street Park.

Don't get me wrong, all worthy causes, but my level of personal endurance was worn pretty thin by the time they were all done.

But enough about me.

The two important things that happened last night were updates.

Apparently, council is going to agree to appoint an interim borough manager after Mark Flanders retires next month to allow for a full-fledged search.

(I hope you're ready Justin Keller.)

The other is that pesky budget which in September had a deficit big enough to drive a 23 percent tax hike. At the time, nine of the borough's funds were not balanced.

Last night Flanders reported all but the general fund and fire fund are now in balance.

But those combined deficits still add up to to a gap of $1,417,049 said Flanders.

To close it with taxes would require a tax hike of 18.39 percent, or a millage increase of 1.902 mills.

For median property assessment in the borough -- $85,000 which covers about 80 percent of the property in town -- that works out to an annual tax hike of $161.67

The alternative is to cut costs. The budget could be balanced by firing 13 police officers, Flanders said.

That idea wasn't flying with Ryan Procsal, the recently reelected councilman from the First Ward. He said crime is down for the third straight year due to police efforts and it would not be "clean savings" to balance the budget and see an increase in crime.

Vice President Sheryl Miller also opposed it, and said she continues to insist that savings can be achieved by making the borough more efficient, before talking about cuts to services and personnel.

Council President Dan Weand, himself just reelected, said he had given other council members a week to come up with suggestions. Presumably we will hear some Monday.

"It is not my place to decide which services to cut. Give me the direction and I will figure it out," Flanders told council.
Here are the Tweets from the meeting