News

November 20, 2009

Dallas to hike property tax; amount not set

REBECCA BRIA rbria@timesleader.com

DALLAS – Residents can expect to see an increase in their municipal taxes next year, according to Borough Manager Tracey Michael Carr.

Council on Wednesday night approved the tentative 2010 operating budget of just under $1.1 million. The plan calls for an increase in taxes, although Carr said she has not yet configured the millage rate.

A mill is a $1 tax for every $1,000 in assessed property value.

Carr said the borough’s current millage rate is 1.07.

She said the increase is due to the need for increased revenue to match expenditures. The certified tax base will also be lower next year due to reassessment appeals that have lowered some property values, Carr said.

The budget for 2009 was over $1.4 million. Carr said there were more projects budgeted for this year than for 2010.

In another matter, Don Holdredge, of Norton Avenue, asked council for an update on a storm water drainage piping replacement that is supposed to take place in his neighborhood.

Holdredge said in October that his property and the properties of several of his neighbors have been continually damaged by storm water runoff since 2006.

Norton Avenue, Spring Street and Lehman Avenue are set to receive $100,000 in federal funds through a 2009 Luzerne County Office of Community Development grant for the piping replacement.

Carr said a required environmental study was conducted and the project was advertised. She said the county office told her the documents will be sent to the federal government for approval.

Also, council passed an ordinance to establish a no-parking zone on a section of Lake Street. Council President Pat Peiffer said the zone will be along Misericordia University property from “the blue house” to the president’s house.

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