Proposed Bellefonte budget raises taxes for 2nd year in a row

Bellefonte’s proposed 2018 budget includes a  3/4 mill real estate tax increase.

It amounts to, on average, $36 per property, which would raise almost $72,000 in revenue, said Lori Walker, the borough’s finance director.

The millage rate would go up to 16.015.

Bellefonte Borough Council voted at its meeting Monday to advertise the proposed budget.

That increase is basically holding things together, said Randall Brachbill, council vice president.

To take any more out of the budget would mean cutting services, he said, and that’s the fine line council talks about each budget cycle.

“We can keep the taxes down, but we’re going to have to cut something or somebody,” he said.

Bellefonte raised its taxes last year by 1 mill.

The millage increase allows for, among other things, a part-time police officer — a position that Sgt. Jason Brower, of Bellefonte police, said would be “beneficial” to the department.

“This year we had a really bad year for injuries and some crime that we would never expect to happen here, that incurred some costs we would never have foreseen,” he said.

Council discussed at its work session prior to the meeting about whether a  3/4 mill increase would be enough.

“Things are going to keep increasing in cost, and our tax base really isn’t. And so we’re delaying the inevitable,” said Councilwoman Courtney Dickman.

The budget will be available for public inspection in the borough office, located at 236 W. Lamb St., and it’s scheduled for adoption on Dec. 4.

Residents can also expect a $10 per quarter sewer service increase next year, Walker said.

This story was originally published November 6, 2017 at 11:47 PM with the headline "Proposed Bellefonte budget raises taxes for 2nd year in a row."