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WILKES-BARRE — City council Monday approved Mayor Tony George’s $49.4 million balanced budget for next year.
The budget, which contains no property tax hike and freezes wages for most city employees, was revised to include a 3 percent pay increase or approximately $85,000 awarded to unionized firefighters through arbitration Nov. 28.
Council members Bill Barrett, Mike Belusko, Tony Brooks and Mike Merritt voted in favor of the budget and related ordinance to increase the cost of using parking meters. Council chairwoman Beth Gilbert opposed the budget and the second and final reading of the ordinance to double the parking meter rate to 50 cents for 15 minutes or $2 an hour.
Gilbert has previously expressed disagreement with higher meter and garbage fees and would rather see expenses cut.
The higher meter rate is budgeted to bring in an additional $475,000 for $1 million in overall meter revenue. The ordinance goes into effect 10 days after approval and once the city recalibrates the 900 meters at the higher rate.
Under the budget, garbage-bag fees will go to $2.60 as opposed to $2 for a 30-gallon bag, and $1.85 from $1.25 for a 15-gallon bag. The bag fees are expected to generate a total of $1.515 million in 2018.
Brooks explained his vote, saying he believes user fees are fairer than increases in direct taxes on people who don’t use services.
“Our current mixed system spreads the tax burden out,” Brooks said.
But he pushed for continuing the effort to improve the city on a number of fronts. “The Wyoming Valley region cannot survive without a strong Wilkes-Barre, that is (an) economically, socially, culturally vibrant city at its heart,” Brooks said.
“I think we all feel the same way,” Barrett added.
In addition to the budget and ordinance, council approved applications for grants through the state’s Local Share Account program funded by gambling revenues and administered by the Commonwealth Financing Authority:
• $130,000 to upgrade the information technology infrastructure of the city. The email system and the IT servers are in need of major improvements so employees can be on the same technological platform.
• $225,000 to fund the Facade Improvement program, which matches up to $5,000 in exterior improvements by homeowners.
• $500,000 for Schools and Homes in Education in Luzerne County. SHINE is an educational and family outreach and attainment program for pre-kindergarten through high school.
• $200,000 to upgrade the electrical system and install a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system at the Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre.
• $200,000 to renovate the swimming pool at the Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA.