bdowlin@berksmontnews.com Hamburg Borough residents are set to see the first hike in taxes over the last six years, as the 2013 budget includes a 1-mill tax increase.
According to Borough Manager Lynda Albright and Assistant Borough Manager Marissa Lenceski, there are many reasons for the proposed increase, which will equate to roughly $83.95-$87.60 for borough residents. The total for the 2013 budget stands at $3,493,600.
‘We have lower than anticipated property and income tax revenue,’ said Lenceski.
‘The overall assessment for Hamburg is down from last year,’ said Albright.
Lenceski said real estate taxes are assessed approximately $11,000 less than in 2012.
Other reasons for the increase cited by Albright and Lenceski include: the hiring of one new police officer and one replacement police officer for the corporal position that was not in the 2012 budget; a part-time criminal investigator position that was not budgeted in 2012; new radios for the Berks Radio System; salary increases, as per contract, for the police department; and multi-year debt retirement provisions.
Increased costs for services such as legal, engineering, computer, and payroll were also mentioned by Lenceski as reasons for the increase.
The 2013 budget can be seen in its entirety at the Hamburg Borough office, 61 N. Third St., from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Monday through Friday for the next 10 days.
Final adoption of the budget will take place at the regular meeting of borough council on Dec. 27.
