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The total property tax millage collected will be 8.9 mills. This means the owner of a $50,000 home will pay about $445 in property taxes to the borough. Borough residents also pay property and other taxes to Jefferson County and to the DuBois Area School District.
The general fund budget totals $239,596. The water budget totals $243,013. The sewage budget totals $310,217. The liquid fuels budget totals $31,311.
Of the liquid fuels money, only $7,500 is slated for new highway construction, compared to $23,582.60. The reason for the dramatic fluctuation to this number is the expectation salt expenses are going to be a strain on this funding.
Also discussed during the meeting was the outdoor furnace ordinance the council is still composing.
While Solicitor Mike Bogash provided the council with a basic outline of what an outdoor furnace ordinance could look like, the council must decide distances pertaining to stack height and setbacks.
Several members of the council agree to having the ordinance lay out the specifications for an outdoor furnace, but also having a permitting process involved before a furnace is installed.
"As far as the height, I think we're fine with the 20 feet (for the stack height), especially in town," Councilman Rick Canton said.
In discussing the possible setbacks and heights, Mayor Rick Fike referenced a "trouble furnace" which smoked out a neighborhood in Punxsutawney. He said once the furnace was in compliance, it had a stack which was five-feet above the roof of a two-story home.
"It is the height that a normal chimney would be out of a house," Fike said. "If that is what they want-fine-but I think it looks horrible."
Councilman Dave Reiter said perhaps the council should consider a time period during which furnaces can be used to prevent continuous burning throughout the year, particularly the summer months. To explain his point, he said some people use the furnace during the winter to heat their homes, while others also burn often during the summer to heat their swimming pools or for other uses.
Bogash reiterated the ordinance limits what can be burned in furnaces, including all natural wood products, coal and number 2 heating oil.
Two council members were particularly supportive of this definition within the ordinance because they knew of situations where people burned dirty diapers in their furnaces.
Bogash said some municipalities also require residents with outdoor furnaces to require a spark arrester. He said he didn't know much about this and it is for the council to decide.
No decisions were made regarding the ordinance. It will go to the ordinance committee for review.
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