Pottstown Moves Ahead With 3.5% Tax Hike

With no comment from the public and only one question from council, a unanimous vote moved Pottstown's $49 million proposed budget forward during Monday's council meeting.

The vote council took was to advertise the draft 2021 budget and a property tax millage not to exceed 13.622 to fund it.

As during Wednesday's work session, when he asked how council could raise taxes by 3.5 percent and give raises to borough workers, police and managers, Councilman Michael Paules asked the only question Monday night.

He asked why council would vote to advertise the budget before its adopted. Borough Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr. explained that state law requires that the proposed budget be advertises for 30 days before adoption to give the public a chance to review it and speak to their elected officials about any concerns they may have.

By that same law, council must adopt the budget before the end of the year and, after advertising it, can only lower the tax rate, not increase it.

Councilman Ryan Procsal said he is anxious to see where the borough's health insurance premiums come in given that the lower-than-anticipated total for 2020 that came in just before this year's budget was adopted and provided a welcome boost to the bottom line.

Borough Council President Dan Weand, who also chairs council's finance committee, said work continues on the budget and that "progress is being made to bring it down and we will work for another month to bring it even lower."

Weand reported that as of the end of September, borough revenues were at 84 percent of what the 2020 budget anticipated, but expenses are at only 58 percent.

That figure may change with the paying of the October bills, which were also approved unanimously Monday night. Weand explained that the eye-popping $7,325,911.90 total was due to three large payments.

"We have a $160,000 payment on a sewer bond; a $2,319,500 payment on a water bond and our payment to the police pension fund which is $1,784,671," he explained.

In other matters, council unanimously approved a final site plan that will allow the Sly Fox Tasting Room on Circle of Progress to build a bocce court and cabana bar.

Council also approved the conditional use permit for John Pizza Jr. who wants to move his business, American Rod, Race and Restoration, to property at 351 West High St. Last week Pizza told council that he uses a lot of local businesses here in town and wanted to move his business here.

Council also voted unanimously to extend for another six months, its loosening of rules that will allow borough restaurants to serve outside and on the sidewalk in order to help them meet coronavirus restrictions and, hopefully, survive the pandemic.

Click here to read the Tweets from the meeting.