The city council Wednesday unveiled a 2014 spending plan with a 1 mill tax increase and a 2 percent salary increase for its administrators.
"Last year, there was a zero salary increase for our non-union administrative employees. The last increase in their salaries was 2012," Councilman Michael P. Halcovage, head of the city finance committee, said at the first reading of the 2014 budget at City Hall.
Mayor John D.W. Reiley asked what that would mean for the average person.
"The average tax bill in Pottsville in 2013 was $528. The average tax bill in Pottsville in 2014 will be $28 more, so it will be $556," city Clerk Julie D. Rescorla said.
The council is expected to give final approval to the $7,912,814 spending plan 3 p.m. Dec. 30 at council chambers, City Hall.
The budget is available for public inspection at the office of the city clerk, second floor, City Hall.
On Wednesday, Halcovage reviewed city tax increases in recent years.
According to Halcovage, there was a 1.5 mill increase in the 2008 budget, a 1 mill increase in the 2009 budget, a 1.6 mill increase in the 2011 budget and a 1.5 mill increase in the 2012.
Instead of raising taxes in 2013, the council approved a $8,038,888 spending plan in December 2012 by laying off one full-time police officer.
The current millage rate is 18.47 mills, or $18.47 for every $1,000 of assessed property value.
On Nov. 18, the council was anticipating $8,026,146 in expenditures and $7,733,089 in revenues - a budget gap of $293,057 for 2014.
By Nov. 21, city officials had whittled that down to $7,893,095 in expenditures and $7,742,689 in revenues.
On Wednesday, at the first reading of the 2014 budget, the council unveiled a $7,912,814 spending plan with a 1 mill tax increase.
The proposed 2014 millage rate is 19.47 mills, or $19.47 for every $1,000 of assessed property value, Rescorla said.
In 2012, the city's 13 non-union administrative employees received a 1.5 percent pay increase. In 2013, they did not get raises, according to Palamar.
Examples of those positions and salaries in 2013 included: city administrator, $78,916.69; superintendent of streets, $55,518.58; fire chief, $51,458.58; and the health officer/animal control officer, $33,641.26.
According to tentative 2014 budget handed out at Wednesday's meeting, those positions and salaries are: city administrator, $80,495; superintendent of streets, $56,629; fire chief, $51,966; and health officer/animal control officer, $34,314.
Other upcoming public meetings planned by the city council include the regular monthly meeting 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9 and the council's reorganization meeting the inauguration of Mayor James T. Muldowney is slated for 10 a.m. Jan. 6, according to Rescorla.