Council Votes to Pass Increased Tax Mill

The hot topic of the council meeting last night was the proposed 2017 budget, including the tax mill increase from 7.75 to 8.75.

Both the 2017 budget and the tax mill increase were approved by council, but not without discussion.

The budget was passed in a 5-2 vote by council, with council members Judy Dici and Marilyn Mancini voting against it.

The new tax mill is expected to increase property taxes just over a dollar per every thousand the property is worth; so for the average property owned in Ellwood (about $60,000) taxes will increase roughly $60 for the 2017 year.

Bob Villella, the Borough Manager, said at the last week’s December Council Meeting that the tax mill increase is a necessity for the revitalization projects, including the construction of the new public works and electric building, that the Borough is currently working towards accomplishing.

Dici brought up a previous thought she had regarding the increase of taxes, and further exemplified that although the mill increase may not seem like a lot to members on council, for someone who makes $25,000 a year, that increase may be a lot.

“Why not borrow 7 million – build one building, pay it off, and then build the next,” Dici questioned, also mentioning that the want for two buildings to be built now reminded her of teenage behavior.

Connie MacDonald, the council president, also reminded Dici of something he had previously mentioned before about why he, and many others on council, believe that the building construction is an absolute necessity sooner than later.

“The buildings are in bad shape, and quite frankly they should have been torn down and rebuilt 30-40 years ago, they are not safe for the workers, they’re not efficient, and if we build new ones now then it will save us more money in the long run.”

Another council member, David DeCaria, backed MacDonald’s claims and also mentioned that the refinancing rates at the moment are favorable.

The mill increase is expected to generate an estimated $246,000 for the total 2017 budget of 15.588 million.