By Wayne Laepple
MILTON — The borough’s 2010 budget of $2.5 million, including a two-mill real estate tax hike, was adopted by the Borough Council on Wednesday night.
The budget is balanced, although in order to do so, the members had to add in two mills they had stopped levying in 2007. Due to declines in employment in the borough, the council had to increase taxes, said Chuck Beck, borough manager. One mill brings in about $66,000, according to Beck. The earned income, real estate transfer and municipal services levies will remain the same.
During the meeting, Steve Beatty, of HRG, showed the council preliminary plans for the municipal parking lot renovations. “This will be a full reconstruction of the lot,” he said.
The lot has 83 spaces, and the reconfigured lot will have 185 spots, including six handicapped spaces. It will feature angled parking along Bound Avenue and Elm Street. Sidewalks, curbs, drainage and lighting all will be addressed, as well as landscaping.
Beatty said the preliminary estimate for the project is $650,000. He said the engineering would be completed and the project would be ready to go out for bids on Feb. 1 with construction taking place next summer.
“I started working on this five years ago, and the price then was $340,000,” Beck said. “Now, it’s $650,000.”
The council also authorized the advertisement of a revised curfew ordinance. The revisions include changes to the curfew hours and increased fines for violators, both children and parents.
