Athens Borough discusses tentative 2010 budget

BY BRIAN BISHOP

ATHENS - Athens Borough Council President Todd Kent Campbell presented the 2010 tentative budget for the borough Monday night at the borough council's regular meeting.

The proposed budget for Athens Borough for 2010 stands at $1,892,700 - down from $3,788,071 in 2009. The decrease in the proposed overall budget reflects a decrease in several parts of the borough's budget, including the borough's Sewer Revenue Fund, which stands at $647,819 in the tentative 2010 budget, from $2,488,000 in the 2009 budget. The drop in the fund reflects the Maple Street sewer upgrade, Campbell said.

The total tax levy for Athens Borough remains the same as 2009 at 16.25 mils. For a home assessed at $30,000 in Athens Borough, the tax bill for 2010 would be $487.50.

Sewer rent charges for the borough are proposed to increase, from $75 per Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU) per quarter in 2009 to $100 per EDU per quarter for residential users. Commercial/public rates are also proposed to increase in the 2010 tentative budget, from $75 per EDU or $5.10 per thousand gallons of water per quarter, whichever is greater, in 2009 to $100 per EDU or $6.78 per thousand gallons of water per quarter, whichever is greater, in 2010.

A press release distributed by Campbell stated that the borough's executive committee has spent a great deal of time preparing the 2010 budget, and that the committee looked at every line item as a potential for cost reduction consideration.

According to the release, the tentative 2010 budget contains the following budget cuts:

- Elimination of a second full-time patrol officer and elimination of a laborer position in the public works department, saving $80,421.30 in wages and benefits in 2010.

- The Athens Borough Council and mayor again have agreed to forego their stipend for 2010 resulting in a savings of $5,800, plus $444 in social security/medicare taxes.

- Closure of the recreation center, realizing a savings of $1,500 per year and preventing future maintenance costs.

- Closure of the Diahoga Hose Company No. 6 for a savings of $5,759 per year and preventing future maintenance costs.

- Reduction in the amount paid for Real Estate Tax collection, saving approximately $10,000 per year in wages, social security and medicare. In 2009 the executive committee reviewed the cost of tax collection in other municipalities of Bradford County and the Athens Area School District and proposed that the borough pay a flat fee of $5,000 to the elected tax collector for real estate tax collection in Athens Borough. The council agreed to adopt an amendment to the tax collection ordinance enacting this change effective Jan. 1, 2010.

A public hearing on the tentative 2010 budget will be held at 7 p.m. on Nov. 23, at which time the public may address the council concerning the 2010 budget proposal, the release stated. The ordinance setting the tax rate for 2010 will be presented at the Nov. 23 meeting of council, and is scheduled for adoption at the Dec. 28 meeting of council, according to the release.

The release stated that the executive committee anticipates that there may be some changes in the tentative budget after the completion of mediation of the police contract, and that the tentative budget will be amended to reflect those changes if mediation is settled prior to the adoption of the 2010 budget at the December meeting of council.

Brian Bishop can be reached at (570) 888-9652; or e-mail: bbishop@thedailyreview.com.

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