ASHLAND - Two 2012 operating budgets were voted on by Ashland Borough Council at Wednesday's meeting with the budget tentatively adopted Nov. 29 formally accepted in a 4-3 vote.
The budget approved Wednesday includes no tax increase but does include a $10 per quarter increase in the sewer rate.
The overall real estate tax millage stays at 20.80 mills but funds were shifted within the budget to hold the line. Taxes dedicated to general purposes increase from 15.95 mills in the 2011 budget to 16.60 mills for 2012, while the taxes going toward street lighting decreases from 2.65 mills to 2.0 mills. Recreation, fire and capital reserve remain at 0.7, 0.5 and 1 mill, respectively.
The division on borough council about what next year's budget should or should not include was evident during the contentious meeting.
On Wednesday, council President Francis Menne asked for a motion on the budget tentatively adopted Nov. 29, but before a motion was made, Councilman Patrick Cooney asked to speak first.
"Out of the four budgets proposed, one included no increase in taxes and nobody had to lose their job or benefits," Cooney said. "The more you look at it, I think we're focusing on the wrong direction with the cuts in the budget. Let's try to focus on building the town up. We have three major industries in town with close to 1,000 employees. We need to build up the town to make it more appealing to live in. Our population is decreasing. That's our main money problem."
Cooney then made a motion to accept a budget proposal that had no tax increase and no cuts in positions and benefits, which was seconded by Councilwoman Melody Wagner. The new budget was defeated in a 3-4 vote, with Cooney, Wagner and Menne voting for it. Voting against were Patti Wesner, Daniel Weikel, Fred Spieles and Ray Walacavage.
The cuts Cooney referred to were reducing the meter maid, Susan Jones, from full to part-time status at 32 hours with no benefits, along with combining the part-time positions of code enforcement officer and deputy health officer into one 20-hour per week position. The current code enforcement officer is Thomas Towers and deputy health officer is Barbara Lyden. Appointment for the combined position will occur at borough council's reorganization meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 3.
Menne then asked for a motion to accept the tentative budget of Nov. 29. Walacavage motioned, with Spieles providing the second. On the question, Cooney made the same argument about building up the town and not knocking it down.
"How do you propose to do that?" Wesner asked.
"We need to work together," Cooney said, complimenting Wesner on the many years she has worked on improving the public parks.
"You've been doing a great job and I commend you on that. Now let's work on the roads and everything else," Cooney said.
"Is there money to fix the roads?" Wesner asked. "You sat on the streets committee as I did and there wasn't enough money to fix the streets. I want to fix the roads. I'd like to fix every road in Ashland."
Even though there were cuts in some positions, Wesner pointed out that the full-time employees will receive a $1,000 per year raise.
"I gave (council) a budget that didn't increase taxes by 1 mill, didn't change the position of meter maid and we still had money to balance the budget, and you didn't accept that one," borough Manager Thomas Joyce said. "I can understand why two budgets out of the four were not accepted because they included cutting hours and shifts on police. But as for this budget, I don't understand."
The vote for formal budget adoption was 4-3, with Wesner, Weikel, Spieles and Walacavage in favor, and Menne, Cooney and Wagner against.
The 2012 budget includes $984,880 in revenue and $975,310 in expenditures. Blue Cross/Blue Shield premiums will increase 8 percent next year and the payment to the police pension will increase in 2012 by $30,000, determined by an actuary study.
The 2012 tax ordinance was also approved in a 4-3 vote, with the same council members voting for or against as in the budget vote.