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NUANGOLA — Borough council had some words of warning this week about the lack of volunteerism that seems to be plaguing the area.
“If we don’t find a fix for the problem, emergency services, especially fire protection, could get expensive,” council chairman Joseph Tucker said.
Tucker’s comments came while officials announced a meeting of officials from the Mountain Top area set for Dec. 7 at Dorrance. The forum is being held to discuss a downturn in volunteerism that has become, as Tucker put it: “A widespread problem.”
Councilman Mark Gandzyk, also a volunteer fireman, stated that a recent fundraising appeal to finance the Nuangola fire department has to this point achieved only a 50 percent return. Out of an estimated 400 households, only half have remitted a contribution, the minimum of which is $50 for the year, Gandzyk pointed out.
Gandzyk opined that if the volunteer department fails, the citizens would face the alternative of establishing a professional service that Gandzyk estimated could cost $500 per person per year.
No tax hike
Council also discussed the 2018 proposed budget. Councilman Michael Johnson submitted a spending plan that calls for sustaining taxes at 2017 rates, although the overall budget, $202,050, is slightly higher than in 2017 ($199,750).
Johnson said revenue will be derived from three major sources: a 1 percent earned income tax, a real estate levy of .444 mills and $32,000 in state liquid fuel reimbursement. (A mill is $1 in tax for every $1,000 in assessed value.)
The budget has been posted at the borough building for public inspection; adoption has been scheduled for Monday, Dec. 18.
In other business this week, council:
• Voted to negotiate a $25,000 loan with First Keystone Community Bank to help finance the purchase of a dump truck.
Tucker said a $16,070 insurance payment for the old truck as well as liquid fuels money and $13,000 in other funds will also go toward the purchase.
• Voted to utilize the services of Modern Gas for propane purchases.
• Approved a proposal by Tucker to file an application for a gambling-funds grant in 2018.
• Heard a report from Johnson that the sewer authority will sustain its monthly service rate at $70 per household.