No Tax Increase in Franklin Budget

| November 13, 2018

FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) – There is no tax increase in the proposed Franklin budget that passed on a first-reading basis at Monday’s City Council meeting.

The $5,316,797.00 budget is just over $123,000.00 more than the 2018 budget but will hold taxes at 11.3 mils with a 1.75 percent income tax.

The two main reasons for the budget being higher than last year, according to City Manager Tracy Jamieson is the purchase of two new police cruisers and a set-aside fund for a street sweeper, which is contingent upon sharing that cost with the General Authority.

Other highlights of the budget include a $5,000.00 increase to the Franklin Public Library; a systematic replacement of police department service weapons and tasers (a multi-year project to replace guns purchased in 2000 and tasers purchased in 2009); the purchase of up to seven in-car video systems for use with traffic stops in the patrol cars; a $25,000.00 transfer to the Motor Vehicle Rescue Fund to put towards a future fire apparatus (This is continuing a program that was initiated with the 2018 budget.); approximately $25,000.00 for park-related improvements (such as Egbert Fountain repainting, fence replacements at 3rd Street and/or 11th Street playgrounds as needed with an additional $5,000 set aside for areas of sidewalk replacements); and a two percent increase in administration salaries.

“I want to thank Tracy for a good job on the budget,” Councilman Michael Dulaney said. “She makes all of us look good.”

A full budget can be viewed by going to the City Building.

A budget hearing will be held prior to the next council meeting, which is slated for 7:00 p.m.on December 3, 2018, at the City Building.

OTHER BUSINESS

In other business the council:

  • Received a check from Jim Williams, the chair of Applefest, to help the city offset costs associated with the Festival. Williams said he wanted to thank the city for its cooperation – “Without your cooperation, we couldn’t do this.”
  • Agreed to apply for a multimodal grant that would be used to create an outer loop in the central part of the City for the bike trail. The loop would be a “shared” usage lane between bikes and cars and would cover the cost of paving/milling and signs. The grant would be in the amount of $655,824.00 with the city having to match 30 percent of it or $184,897.00, which could be covered from Liquid Fuels monies. The deadline for applying is November 15, 2018, although any work on the project should the City receive the grant wouldn’t occur until 2020.
  • Agreed to contract with First United National Bank for a tax-anticipation loan for 2019 in the amount of $450,000.00 at a 2.35 percent interest rate to be paid by June 2019.
  • Granted a right-of-way request to National Fuel coming off Prospect Avenue running along the concrete parking area on the backside of the Professional Building. The right-of-way is needed so the company can provide gas services in the most effective manner to the new Family Services and Children’s Aid Society at the Professional Building site.
  • Approved a Certificate of Appropriateness to St John’s Episcopal Church, 1151 Buffalo Street, for the construction of a pitched roof.
  • Gave approval for a parade request by the CITY/FFAC for the Light-up Night Event taking place on November 17. The parade will utilize Fountain Park and downtown streets.
  • Heard from deputy mayor Donna Fletcher about her concerns of people sleeping in campers in Franklin during AppleFest. Fletcher believes the noise generated from the campers generators is unfair to City residents and would like to see an ordinance prohibiting that sort of activity.
  • Heard a request delivered by Jamieson on behalf of Councilman James Marshall, who was absent from the meeting, about Marshall’s hopes to make the speed hump in the 1300 block of Otter Street permanent. Marshall, according to Jamieson, has talked to some of the residents who all liked the effects the temporary speed hump had on speeding in that block of Otter Street and would like to see the speed hump made permanent. The temporary speed hump has been removed because of the upcoming need for snow plowing, but the Council said it will take the matter under consideration at a future meeting and overall seemed like they would support the idea of a permanent speed hump.

  • Copyright © 2024 EYT Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of the contents of this service without the express written consent of EYT Media Group, Inc. is expressly prohibited.

    Category: Community, Local News, News