With this year’s increase at .92 percent, 2017 marks the third consecutive year that the borough has increased taxes by less than one percent.
Palmyra’s Borough Council adopted the 2017 municipal and sewer utility budget at the Monday, April 17 meeting. Residents should expect a nearly 1 percent tax increase equating to $1.20 for every $100 of assessed valuation. For the average assessed home of $147,600, the increase is $16.19 per year.
This marks the third consecutive year the borough has increased taxes by less than 1 percent. This year’s budget maintains or expands existing borough services while including a 2 percent salary increase for staff.
With finances at the forefront, the meeting turned to a discussion regarding the addition of a new aerial truck for the Palmyra Fire Department. In previous meetings, Independence Fire Company made its case to replace its more than two-decades old truck.
Borough Administrator John J. Gural discussed a proposed question and interpretative statement for the November ballot, which would ask voters whether the borough should finance the purchase of a new engine over a 15-year period. However, as the referendum is non-binding, the choice is ultimately in the borough’s hands.
Mayor Michelle Arnold said if they finance using a 15-year bond, the estimated average cost to the homeowner would be approximately $27.30 per year. Arnold said Borough Council still has time to review the ballot question and interpretative statement, however. Gural also emphasized the referendum question is still in the draft phase.
Arnold said council will discuss the question and interpretative statement at its next work session.
In other news:
• Permission slips for student volunteers became a source of much debate at the meeting. Arnold questioned why “volunteers” had been paid in the past for their work, which she said undermines the nature of volunteering and complicates the permission slip process. She said the volunteering process needs to continue to be formalized moving forward with the borough’s attorney taking a look at their permission slip waivers. Councilwoman Mindie Weiner said the issue came up when she learned that students from other towns were sometimes paid for volunteer work while loading and unloading at local farmers’ markets.
• Councilwoman Mindie Weiner updated council on the Business Community and Development Committee’s progress in creating Palmyra’s own farmer’s market. She said the goal is to have 10 local vendors selling their wares on tables across from Borough Hall. However, the committee is still unsure how much to charge vendors, as Arnold raised the point that a proposed $10 fee would cost more to process than the borough would gain. Weiner said she would continue to consult surrounding towns for information about how they run their farmer’s markets before proceeding further.
