Cornwall Borough advances proposed 2026 budget with no tax increase

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

Cornwall Borough Council agreed Monday night to advertise the draft 2026 budget for adoption at its December meeting. Councilman Tom Burton opposed.

The budget includes an expected $3,560,849.30 in expenditures and revenues, with no planned tax increase.

In specific line items, the budget includes $350,000 for the Tice Lane Bridge, which saw $300,000 budgeted in 2024 that went mostly unspent.

In 2025, $400,000 was budgeted for a new garage, though only $22,699.48 in engineering fees was spent on the project, which was then estimated to cost upwards of $1 million. No additional funds were put towards the project this year.

In recreation, the borough expects an increase in received subdivision recreation fees ($2,500 per residential lot, earmarked exclusively for recreation expenses) from $50,000 budgeted in 2025 to $200,000 in 2026, bringing recreation cash in hand to $494,848.93. The only budgeted expense in recreation for 2026 is $10,000 allotted for ballfield maintenance.

Council members also discussed salary-related items, in particular a budgeted 6.6% increase for the borough manager and a 5.7% increase for the administrative assistant.

Borough manager Cody Rhoads said most positions were planned for 5% salary increases, with the township manager position planned for a higher increase due to a recommendation from the water & sewer committee, and wanting to make sure the township manager earned more than the water & sewer director.

As water & sewer director Barbara Henry plans to retire this year, the borough is considering having Rhoads take over much of Henry’s workload. The budget lists expenditures for this position as if it will be filled the entire year, as council has not come to a decision on how it will handle her retirement.

Mayor Mark Thomas voiced opposition to the salary increase, noting that Rhoads received a significant pay increase two years ago (from 75,538.40 in 2023 to $96,497.60 in 2024, which councilman John Karinch noted was to bring Rhoads’ salary up to par with other borough/township managers).

Councilwoman Julie Bowman pointed out that the budget earmarks funds for expenditure, but does not lock council into certain expenses. Council will later need to set salaries, and may not follow the budget’s recommendations.

The borough also plans to increase funds given to a fire company stipend (which pays volunteers for hours spent attending to calls) from around $47,000 to $55,000, with overall fire budgeted funds increasing from $175,137.11 to $187,993.03 (including fire insurance, workmen’s compensation, training, and equipment).

Burton asked why the company felt entitled to receive a stipend. Rich Stichter of the fire company said the department is not entitled to a stipend, but said the stipend (established in 2023) has been successful in encouraging membership and, subsequently, short response times and ability to respond to all calls.

Chairman Bruce Harris voiced support for the program, saying that in addition to burning building calls, the fire company also handles fallen trees and numerous other types of calls that are necessary for public safety.

Though council plans to adopt the budget in December, Harris noted that the new council (including newcomers Eric Tobias and John Lux as well as the reelection of several current council members) will have the option of reopening the budget in January.

Read More: Republicans win Cornwall council races

Though there was no tax increase planned in the main budget, council unanimously agreed to pass on City of Lebanon Authority (COLA) increases in water and sewer rates (5% and 3.7%, respectively) as well as tapping fee increases to $6,200 for water and $6,000 for sewer.

In other news, council:

• Discussed a recently completed fire regionalization study. While no action was taken, council expressed willingness to enter talks with North Cornwall Township on a merger with Neversink FC, with whom the Community FC of Cornwall has a close relationship.

Read More: Study recommends consolidation of fire departments across six municipalities

• Unanimously agreed to the purchase and installation of a new server for $24,684, with plans to attempt to renegotiate a $1,000 monthly maintenance and upkeep fee.
• Unanimously approved a stormwater management plan for Alden Mansion despite complaints from residents, with Karinch saying, “It’s not our fight.” Solicitor Josele Cleary said the borough’s responsibility is to determine whether the plan meets stormwater requirements, and they cannot weigh in on a civil issue.
• Unanimously approved a new zoning hearing board application and fee based on that of Myerstown Borough, increasing fee from $600 to $1,000 for residential, $1,250 for non-residential.
• Tabled action on the donation of land along Cobalt Alley by Cornwall Properties, with Cleary unable to find record of the borough having previously accepted the alley.
• Unanimously waived the requirement for submission of a final plan for Snitz Creek Park, which the borough is looking to complete.
• Unanimously authorized Jeff Steckbeck and Cleary to take enforcement action on Sycamore Hills if needed, as the property has failed to replant trees removed in 2024 against the requirements of the property’s plan.
• Unaniously accepted the dedication of Forge Drive in Cornwall Junction, with the developer to provide an equal amount the borough would have received in liquid fuels funding due to late submission.
• Discussed the adoption of a code of ethics for borough employees, though no action was taken.
• Discussed community involvement in committees, noting the borough currently has multiple positions open (including a Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority seat and a planning & zoning seat).
• Unanimously approved a resolution applying for an LSA grant for the fire company to go toward reconstruction and improvement of the company’s driveway.
• Unanimously approved a reduction of $415,738.39 on the Rexmont Road Subdivision’s letter of credit, with $706,331.51 remaining.
• Approved a time extension until Feb. 9 for the Knoll development, with Bowman opposed.
• Unanimously approved the stormwater management plan for 384A Rexmont for a single-family home and driveway.
• Unanimously approved minutes and reports.

Cornwall Borough Council meets the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. These meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.