Credit: Jeff Bohen/LevittownNow.com
The Bristol Borough Council on Monday night voted for to raise taxes for the 2014 to makeup for a shortage in expected revenue.
It’s the first tax increase for residents of the borough in eight years, officials said at the meeting.
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The “difficult vote” was noted throughout social media circles Tuesday morning by residents who felt they were being mocked by those on council laughing during the vote for the levy.
The total property tax millage will come out to $906 for a resident with a property assessed at the borough average of $16,000. Before this increase, the millage had remained at 49.89 for the last seven years. The millage now jumps to 56.64, officials said Monday.
The tax hike will cover the $616,571 lost as result of poor returns on borough investments.
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Councilmen Pat Sabatini and Tony Devine voted against the budget saying last week there were other alternatives to coming up with the additional funds needed to have a balanced budget.
Borough Fire Marshal Herb Slack pointed out that funding for the fire department was still at “1990 levels” and asked for a millage increase for the fire fund. That increase came in at 1.75 mills
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Devine had asked for overtime to be cut for the police department and emergency cleanup, however, there was no support for the motion and it died before a vote could be taken.
Bristol Borough’s operating budget for the 2014 is $13 million, according to officials.
