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BELLEFONTE -- Bellefonte Borough's proposed 2024 no tax increase budget is available for the public's review.
The tentative budget was included in the council packet on Monday night, and included a detailed breakdown of the contents of the booklet.
It first began with a budget message from borough Manager Ralph Stewart who went into detail explaining the implementation of the "Priority Budgeting process" that staff was able to simplify by using charts to highlight top spending areas.
Stewart listed the principles of priority-based budgeting, as well as detailed explanations for each one.
Though he noted there were challenges, Stewart explained in the letter, "This year's budget proposes using approximately $30,000 of reserves from 2023 to balance the 2024 General Fund budget and to maintain the same level of services. No tax increase is proposed for the General Fund. There is a .05 mill increase proposed for Emergency Medical Services and the Fire Department Fund. There is a .50 mill increase proposed for the Streetlighting Fund."
The budget booklet contains a section labeled "2024 Budget in Brief" which displays a chart indicating the amount in each fund, the sources for those funds and whether or not there is a proposed tax or fee increase.
In total, the 2024 Budget will be in the amount of $14,661,165.
The tentative budget will be made available for public inspection from Dec. 8 through Dec. 18, 2023. The public hearing and consideration for adoption, along with any requested changes, will take place at the Dec. 18 council meeting.
Formal comments should be directed to the Borough Manager/Secretary at either rstewart@bellefontepa.gov or mailed Bellefonte Borough's office, 236 W. Lamb St., Bellefonte, PA, 16823.
"I want to thank our council members and mayor for the time they dedicate to serving the borough. ...I also want to thank each and every member of our borough staff. Much of what we do is a team effort and I appreciate everyone's time, talent and energy," wrote Stewart.
The budget booklet contains a list of borough accomplishments completed in 2023.
A few of these accomplishments include:
-- Completing the South Spring Street portion of the Streetscape Project.
-- Planted 40 to 50 Eastern redbud trees in conjunction with the Fish & Boat Commission along the Waterfront Walkway.
-- Paved five streets in the borough.
-- Installed an elevator in the Armory Building and added an ADA sidewalk and ramp.
The document also contains a lengthy list of goals and action items for 2024, as well as an option for other goals as directed by council. A few of these goals include:
-- Complete the storm water runoff project on Parkwood Drive
-- Coordinate/plan transition of staff to Armory Building/relocation of Police offices.
-- Begin to replace aging streetlight poles on Allegheny and W. Linn streets.
-- Borough website design upgrades.
The Bellefonte Borough Council will meet again on Dec. 18, with the Work Session beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the business meeting beginning at 7:30 p.m.