Everson Borough residents will face a half-mill property tax increase in 2004.
During a special meeting Monday, borough council adopted a budget for the new year and voted to raise the 1.0395 millage rate to 1.5395.
Mayor Timothy Shoemaker said the average assessed property value in the borough is about $15,000. Borough residents can calculate what they will pay in taxes in 2004 by multiplying the assessed value of their property by .0015395.
The half-mill increase will bring in $26,655.42, which is badly needed because the borough is anticipating borrowing $30,000 to pay back 2003 taxes to residents as well as pay for any fees related to an ongoing audit of the borough's books in the wake of reports of alleged financial irregularities.
With the budget set at $141,4000, Councilman Neil Stevens proposed a few changes, including an increase in the public safety category to provide a police officer an additional 15 hours a week, as well as an increase in the public works budget to rehire a laid-off borough employee.
Stevens also reported an increase in legal services amounting to an additional $2,000 because of anticipated expenses resulting from the investigation. The borough is faced with the prospect of paying back $9,000 worth of taxes to residents.
