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Palmyra Borough Council voted to increase sewer and trash collection rates and to advertise the 2025 budget, which will raise real estate taxes, during the Nov. 26 meeting.
They voted 4-2 to advertise the 2025 budget and the 2025 Real Estate Tax Ordinance, which will set the real estate tax rate at 5.3 mills. Council members Anthony Catalani and Marcus Riddell dissented on both votes. Council member Matthew Andrews was not present.
The real estate millage rate was 4.11 in 2024, making this an increase of 1.19 mills.
The budget has been the topic of conversation for over a month now, with the borough starting conversations with a shortfall of over $800,000.
Read More: Palmyra Council tries to cut down on $819,000 budget shortfall, mayor retires
That number was brought down to around $600,000 with cuts to public works and an agreement with the Western Lebanon County Regional Police Department.
Read More: Palmyra Borough Council proposes tax hike to meet $601,000 budget shortfall
The tax increase will cover this remaining $600,000 shortfall.
The fire tax and public library tax will remain at .67 mills and .06 mills, respectively.
The budget must be publicly available for at least 10 days before the council can vote on the final budget at the Dec. 23 meeting.
Regarding increasing refuse collection rates, council voted 4-3, with Mayor Fred Carpenter casting the tiebreaking vote. Rates will increase from $89 per quarter to $112 per quarter in 2025. Catalani, Riddell, and Jane Quairoli cast the “no” votes.
Council also voted 5-1 to increase sewer rates from $98 per quarter to $109 per quarter for flat-rate residential dwelling units. Catalani opposed.
Members did not provide reasoning for their dissenting votes during the meeting, but after adjournment, Riddell said he couldn’t vote to advertise anything that would raise taxes.
“Even though it’s advertising, it’s still that I’m telling you, ‘Go ahead and put it out there for everybody instead of trying a little harder,’” he said. “I will not vote to raise taxes even though it’s probably going to pass that way, but I can’t — these people are hurting enough.”
Throughout the past months of budget discussions, council members noted there isn’t much they can cut from the “bare bones” budget.
In other business:
- The borough is also facing issues with its volunteer fire department as it has trouble keeping a full staff. In one of borough manager Roger Powl’s reports, he said they will have to look at paying firefighters for their service. He said the borough is currently paying about $400,000 to keep the department running, but that could increase to $4 million if staff payment is required. The fire department could run for another year with volunteers, Powl said, but they will need to discuss other options in the near future.
- Council unanimously approved a resolution allowing the borough to apply for a grant that could provide 100% of the funding needed for the replacement of the borough’s 2007 sewer jet-vac/hydro-excavation truck. The total cost would be $572,091.
Palmyra Borough Council will meet next at 325 S. Railroad St. on Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. Meetings are also streamed on the Palmyra Borough, Lebanon County Pennsylvania YouTube page.
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