BELLEFONTE — Bellefonte Borough residents could see a 0.75 mil increase in their real estate tax bills.
On Nov. 6, borough council voted unanimously to advertise its 2018 proposed budget. Council member Taylor Lake was absent from the meeting.
Randall Brachbill, vice president of council, said the budget kept services where they are and any lower millage would require them to cut personnel or services.
The budget includes another part-time police officer position that Sgt. Jason Brower said would be beneficial after a year of injuries and unexpected costs combating crime.
The general fund’s revenues and expenditures under the proposed budget would be $3,426,260. Parks and recreation comes in at $95,550; refuse, $1,005,690; highway aid, $359,000; fire equipment fund, $96,330; and the fire operating fund, $180,915.
Water, through the borough’s water authority, would be $1,529,310, with no anticipated increases in the cost of water to residents. The sewer fund comes in at $9,992,080 and includes provisions for some major projects. There is an anticipated $10 per quarter increase in sewer bills for residents.
A final vote on the budget is scheduled for the Monday, Dec. 4, meeting.
Also on Nov. 6, council voted to solicit bids for major work for two municipal parking lots. The project will require the a complete tear-out and repaving of “A lot,” between West Howard and West Pike streets and Locust Lane. Gone will be parking meters, and guests will instead pay at one of two kiosks located at the northern and southern exits.
In the same lot there will be an expected electric car charging station, but for now work will just include the installation of the electric conduit.
Curbing along the perimeter will better help define the lot from Locust Lane, said Todd Smith from ELA Group, the lots’ designer.
“H lot,” between West High and South Potter streets near Tallyrand Park, is in much better shape than A lot, Smith said. It will, however, be undergoing a complete reorientation.
Right now, drivers come into the lot from High Street and exit onto Meek Lane. Smith said he’s heard complaints that the lot is more of a “free-for-all,” especially since it’s not well-defined from Meek Lane to the south.
The new plan would have people use the eastern entrance from West High Street and the western entrance would be used to exit onto West High Street. More curbing here will help define the lot from Meek Lane.
Pedestrians will be directed to the northeast corner of the lot via a sidewalk to pay for parking at a kiosk, which should also discourage people from crossing South Potter Street and the railroad tracks.
The request for bids was released in a manner that companies can pick between projects or bid on them both.
Bids are expected to be delivered by the end of January.
Borough administrators will be entering the municipality into the Governor’s Award for Excellence nominations for the work done to fund and install a Liberty Swing at Governor’s Park. The swing allows those confined to wheelchairs to be buckled into the swing without having to be lifted from a chair. The effort cost $30,000 in donations and in-kind work from the borough.
The borough hopes to use its anticipated $100,000 in 2017 Community Development Block Grant money for ADA improvements to the restroom at Governor’s Park and an accessible fishing path in Masullo Park, said Don Holderman, borough manager.
Holderman added the improvements would not be possible with taxpayer dollars without an increase in millage.
