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LAFLIN — The borough council passed a budget for 2017 Tuesday without a tax increase.
The vote came after a contentious meeting earlier this month where the council considered a budget with a 20 percent tax increase.
The final budget for the borough of approximately 1,500 keeps the millage rate around 1.84 mills and has projected revenues of $868,784 and projected expenditures of $891,417. A mill is $1 in tax for every $1,000 in assessed property value.
The budget passed by a 4-1 vote with Glen Gubitose, Lisa Natt, Michael Flanagan and Sandra Falcone voting in favor, and Carl Yastremski voting no.
During the council’s last meeting, former councilman Tom Parry encouraged the governing body to listen to Yastremski, who insisted there was no need for the increase. He argued that the council had projected revenue low and expenses high in order to increase its surplus.
Parry believes that surplus was an attempt to set aside funds to eventually reinstate the police department.
Several members of the council said that that was not their intent when questioned by residents at the meeting.
“Well, that’s what you ran on,” Parry said.
Former councilman Tony D’Eliseo also believes that the council might be attempting to bring back the police department.
He said he was also concerned with the general disrespect shown by the council to members of the public, alleging that Falcone made an obscene gesture toward a member of the public at the last council meeting.
Falcone did not address the accusation on Tuesday.
D’Eliseo credited former members of council with eliminating its police department and making funds available for improvement to the borough’s infrastructure.
The elimination of the tax increase did not completely quiet criticism of the budget, however. Members of the public took issue with an increase in a franchise fee for cable-provider Comcast.
“The 5 percent fee from Comcast means about $24,000 for the borough,” D’Eliseo said. “That’s about a $12,000 increase over 2016 in which the franchise fee was 3 percent.”
The $24,000 from the franchise fee brings the borough’s expected surplus to more than $80,000.
D’Eliseo also questioned why Solicitor Steve Menn took charge of the lion’s share of the meeting.
“He’s only supposed to advise council,” he said. “Not speak on their behalf.”
Resident Michael Day, who said he was a teacher, also questioned why Menn addressed attendees, rather than council members.
“Its seems like you trying to run out the clock, looking down and waiting for the meeting to be over,” he said. “No one likes it when they asks questions that don’t get answered.”
