LAFLIN — During the second reading of the borough’s 2017 proposed budget Tuesday night, several borough residents spoke out, raising concerns about spending.
Many of the nearly 100 residents who filled the borough’s fire department hall for the council session questioned the council majority’s proposed increase of one-half mill, or a more than 20 percent bump. A mill is a $1 tax for every $1,000 of assessed value.
Councilman Carl Yastremski, who did not vote to approve the second reading, spent about 20 minutes delineating possible reductions in the proposed 2017 budget. When he concluded, someone from the audience yelled, “How much would you save?”
Yastremski responded, “$122,921.”
Income and expenditures of the proposed budget total about $950,000.
An accountant by profession, Yastremski said he believes an increase in the borough’s real estate tax to fund the borough’s expenses was unnecessary. “This (proposed) budget overestimates expenses and underestimates income,” he said. “You can’t have it both ways.”
Yastremski pointed out a projected increase of $2,000 in the cost of snow removal. He asked, “Why would we have an increase in cost of snow removal?”
Mayor Dorothy Yazurlo, who opened the meeting with a recitation of the month’s total of Pennsylvania State Police responses in Laflin, decried the loss of the borough’s police department in 2014.
Yazurlo told residents there is a continuing need for a local police presence, with many residents recently compelled to wait up to an hour for a state police response to incidents such as an accident. “There needs to be a police report when these things happen,” she said. “But the state police, although they are doing their best, can’t get here that quick.”
Many in the audience questioned whether the real estate tax increase was aimed at building a reserve so the borough could re-establish the police department. Several members said that was not the reason for the reserve.
Yazurlo said she believes regionalization is the wave of the future, with Jenkins Township initiating the discussion about the possibility. “We can’t do that right now,” she said, “because we don’t have the money.”
Under the borough’s proposed budget for next year, the real estate tax paid on an average property would increase by about $87.
Chris Kopko told the council that, although he might be able to afford the increase, other people cannot.
Tom Parry, a former councilman, told the council’s members, “I suggest that you sit down and hear what Carl has to say before the final vote.”
Although the five council members did approve the second reading of the proposed budget, with only Yastremski voting “no,” they did promise those gathered they would listen to Yastremski’s proposals.
“I really think they are going to listen,” Parry said later. “I’m hopeful.”
Council will meet later this month for a final reading of the budget. Under state law, Laflin’s budget needs to be finalized by Dec. 31.
