Pottsville raises taxes for 2012 [Republican & Herald, Pottsville, Pa.]

Dec. 30--With a unanimous vote Thursday afternoon, Pottsville City Council raised taxes for a second year in a row.

At a special meeting at City Hall, the council passed its 2012 budget of $8,058,299, which carries a 0.6-mill increase.

The primary reason why the city raised taxes was rising health care costs, according to City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar.

"Health care costs are budgeted at a 20 percent increase," Palamar said Thursday.

Currently, the city's 61 full-time employees are served by Highmark Blue Shield. In an effort to save money in the future, city council is planning to explore the possibility switching to a health insurance consortium like Benecon, Palamar said.

The budget also included raises for all city employees, who fall into three categories:

- The city's 13 non-union administrative employees received a 1.5 percent pay increase.

Those positions and the salaries for 2012 are: chief of police, $81,845.77; city administrator, $78,916.69; city clerk, $70,356.25; code enforcement officer, $42,206.80; superintendent of streets, $55,518.58; fire chief, $51,458.58; tax assessor, $38,253.80; deputy city clerk, $35,794.76; health officer/animal control officer, $33,641.26; deputy tax collector, $32,788.98; deputy code enforcement officer, $28,143.87; and city administrator's secretary, $26,321.81.

Arlene Sibbett, the secretary for Pottsville Mayor John D.W. Reiley, will retire at the end of January. Her salary for the month will be $3,299.83.

Sandy Paulshock, the current deputy city clerk, will be taking over as the mayor's secretary in February. Her salary for 2012 will be $36,794.76.

The 1.5 percent increase will total $7,752.85, according to Palamar.

Last year, those 13 nonunion management employees were slated to receive 3 percent pay increases in 2011, but they agreed to have their increases cut to 1.5 percent.

- The city's 21 non-uniformed employees, who are represented by a union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, received a 3 percent increase. Those increases will come to $10,889.58, according to Palamar.

- The city's 27 police officers, who are represented by the Fraternal Order of Police, received a 3.75 percent increase in 2011. Palamar said negotiations with the FOP are continuing and will determine the percentage increase for 2012.

"Right now, the budget has no salary increases for police at this time, but we understand that there will be increases. So we're going into the new budget year with some question marks and we'll have to address that," Palamar said.

City Clerk Julie D. Rescorla said the city put a 2.5-mill increase in its 2011 budget. Prior to 2011, the city's last tax increase was a 1-mill increase for the 2009 budget.

The current tax millage is 17.58 mills, or $17.58 for every $1,000 of assessed property value. With the 0.6-mill increase, that will increase 31 cents to $18.18 for every $1,000 of assessed property value, according to Rescorla.

In terms of revenue, 0.6 mills brings in $101,240, according to Rescorla.

The average tax bill in Pottsville this year was $502.75. In 2012, it will be $8.73 more, or $511.48, Rescorla said.

Also on Thursday, the council gave final adoption to two ordinances that will increase fees for city services.

Bill No. 13/11 is an amendment to Chapter 133 of the city's codified ordinances increasing the yearly residential handicap parking renewal fee from $5 to $25.

There are an estimated 90 homes in Pottsville that have handicap parking spaces that must be renewed every year, according to Councilman James T. Muldowney.

Bill No. 14/11 is an amendment to Chapter 176 of the city's codified ordinances increasing the five-year rental property inspection fee from $25 to $35 per unit.

City council will hold its 2012 reorganization meeting 10 a.m. Tuesday at City Hall.

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(c)2011 the Republican & Herald (Pottsville, Pa.)

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