Bellefonte Finalizes 2019 Budget, Tax Increase

The budget has been approved in Bellefonte and taxes will rise, but not as high as originally thought. The increase in the budget was originally proposed to be 1.45 mills, or about $47 a year per household, but after reviewing the budget, it was brought down to 1.25 mills, which would raise taxes to about $40 a year per household, according to borough manager Ralph Stewart.

The Borough Council approved the budget at its Dec. 17 meeting. The breakdown of the added budget would see .8 mills ($80,000) put toward the borough’s general fund, a fifth of a mill ($20,000) toward emergency medical services and a quarter of a mill ($25,000) toward parks and recreation.

The borough had originally planned a 1 mill ($100,000) increase to its general fund, but Stewart said that they re-examined at some things and were able to bring it down $20,000. The preliminary budget saw the addition of a part-time police officer, but after a review the borough decided to wait on adding that position, allowing time to further evaluate the costs, said Stewart. He said they plan to determine how adding a part-time officer would affect the budget, including determining how much it would help offset overtime cost paid to current officers.

He said there has been no change in the service the police are currently providing and that if the “numbers work out,” they may still add the part-time position in the future.

The other increases are due to the increased cost of services, helping EMS maintain its services and the renovations for Kepler Pool in Governors Park.

Stewart said Bellefonte EMS has been struggling since it has been seeing less of its services covered by insurance providers over the last few years. It is struggling like many other EMS in the area and is looking for ways to get enough funding. Bellefonte EMS is looking for each municipality it serves to provide a fifth of millage to help it maintain its services.

Kepler Pool has been in bad shape for years and, under the Nittany Valley Joint Recreation Authority, the pool is set to receive a grant from the state for $334,800 for repairs. The borough, along with other regional municipalities, agreed to match that funding. Bellefonte’s committed portion of the match is $150,000 total over five years. Stewart said the fifth of millage will go toward generating that match over the five years and then the tax increase may be taken back when the project is completed if everything goes as planned.