Everson Borough residents will not see a tax increase in 2012.
Council unanimously passed a tentative plan Monday that shows a balanced budget of $171,914.
President Mike Banaszak said the total budget is actually about $1,500 less for 2012 than it was for 2011, noting the borough will have paid off a 2006 loan for a resurfacing project on Painter Street.
"So the money that we saved there was put into some other areas of the budget, and the bottom line is, in order not to shortchange any specific department or area such as public safety or highways, the budget includes $1,100 being transferred from savings to balance the budget," he said.
Banaszak said the budget two years ago also showed a transfer from savings to balance the budget, but it never happened. Council is hoping again not to have to take anything from savings.
The biggest sources of revenue in 2012 include $87,000 in real estate taxes and $36,000 in earned income taxes.
Some of the bigger expenses include $22,500 for miscellaneous insurance and taxes; $33,904 for salaries in the police department; and $20,800 for street department salaries.
Council also unanimously approved advertisement of the budget and intent to adopt Ordinance 182, setting the tax rate at 5.2895 mills for 2012, the same as 2011.
Everson Volunteer Fire Department Chief Chuck Leighty recently met with borough Solicitor Mark Rowan to look at updating a borough ordinance concerning third party billing within the fire department.
"The current ordinance sets the amount that a fire department can bill, but the ordinance was done 12 to 15 years ago, so they felt that needed updated to reflect current practices," Rowan said.
He also gave an update on the inter-municipal sewage agreement the Westmoreland Fayette Municipal Sewage Authority needs signed by Everson and Scottdale boroughs and East Huntingdon and Upper Tyrone townships before a new treatment plant can be built.
Rowan said he and Scottdale's solicitor recently made some revisions to the most recent agreement presented by the authority's solicitor, Don Snyder.
"We took out all of the 'authority may' language and made the agreement say the 'authority will' do billing and take over the lines," he said.
Rowan said they also took out a part in the agreement that would have residents in any municipality where capital improvements are being done pay more on their sewage bill for the improvements. They also added a provision that would not bring a representative from Upper Tyrone Township onto the sewage authority board until the Upper Tyrone Township Sewage Authority actually signs a construction agreement.
"Our biggest issue right now is what can and cannot be taken out as far as combined flows go, but we're really close," he said. "My hope is that in December we can come in here with an agreement and say this is where we want it to be."
Councilman and street department worker Marty Adobato told council that some things in the garage are disappearing, including tools and brooms and mops.
Banaszak said if anyone on council has any idea where things might be, to please get with Marty (Adobato) or himself.
