ORWIGSBURG - If the proposed 2013 borough budget passes final approval in December, residents will not have a tax increase in 2013.
Last year, residents faced with a 0.16-mill increase, the first one since 1986.
At the council's monthly meeting Wednesday night, members voted to advertise the proposed budget prior to the Dec. 12 meeting. A final budget must be approved by Dec. 31.
"There are no changes to the tax rate," council member Steven Zimmerman said about the budget.
One mill of taxes in the borough brings in about $66,000.
The tax rate will remain at 3 mills on each on each dollar of assessed valuation and the occupation tax will remain at 13 mills.
The council also voted to advertise a resolution maintaining other taxes. They include a per capita tax of $10, real estate transfer tax of 1/2 of 1 percent, earned income tax of 1/2 of 1 percent, amusement tax of $25 per device and a $47 local services tax. "Again everything remains the same as last year," Zimmerman said.
The general fund budget is at $779,187, the water fund at $745,475, sewer fund is at $797,400 and the sanitation fund, $276,010.
Lonergan said the increases in the general fund of $18,500 from the 2012 budget are attributable mostly to increases health insurance costs - 12.9 percent - and "normal salary increases" as well as insurance-related increases.
The water and sanitation fund remains unchanged from the 2012 budget. The sewer fund is down $4,600 due to declining revenue.
The council did not discuss the budget before voting to advertise. The proposed budget is available for review at borough hall starting today from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
The council also appointed Alex Falco as a junior council member. He was sworn in by Mayor Austin Scandiber. Falco does not have a vote on the council nor can be participate in executive sessions, but he can participate in council discussions.
The 17-year-old Blue Mountain High School senior said he is interested in a career in politics.
Borough Patrolman Brandon Bayer told the council that calls were up in the borough for September and October.
A review of data on the police department's website - www.orwigsburg.net/police - shows 138 calls for September and 139 for October. There were 85 calls in August.
Bayer also said there is a problem with people not paying attention to crosswalk rules.
"I think we have a problem with crosswalks," regarding people who do not obey the rules of the road.
In October a woman was fined $136 and had two points assessed against her license for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk downtown. The pedestrian was injured and was walking in the crosswalk when struck, he said.
Bayer said the proper signs are in place and the public needs to be aware of the law, which says motorists should yield to pedestrians when they are walking in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
"It's a persistent problem," he said. "It's being going on for years." The borough zoning hearing board will meet at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 to consider the application of Donald and Kay Koch for a special exception to operate a beauty salon and provide off-street parking at 520 W. Market St.
The board will also hear the application of Verizon Wireless to install communication antennas on the water tank at 2012 Ridgeview Drive.