The Finance & Budget Committee, led by Chairman Pete Mammana, expects to present a 2021 budget to Council on November 9th that will hold the line on West Easton taxes for the 6th year in a row.
West Easton has always been a community that tries to save for a rainy day and the Covid-19 pandemic wasn’t just a rainy day, it was a deluge throughout Pennsylvania.
West Easton, despite the loss of income from the Work Release Center, a decrease in Earned Income Tax collections, and increased Solicitor costs partly due to frivolous litigation by our common scold constable, among other factors affecting the bottom line, is still financially healthy.
Approximately $25,000 was carried forward from this year and will hold the line on taxes. Other savings may involve reducing the scope of, or putting off projects planned for 2021, such as Phase II of the Monument Park Improvement Project and no increases on the donation amounts made to the Library and other organizations that are expected to come calling.
Among some of the items discussed at the public meeting of the Finance & Budget Committee was the Police Budget that remains fully funded, a reduction of the number of councilpersons attending PSAB conferences offered in 2021, the elimination of the donation to the Wilson Athletic Association (disbanded), and the collection of any monies that may be owed to the borough, even if it means placing liens on properties.
West Easton has always operated on a relatively small budget, due to it’s limited size and lack of an abundance of businesses other communities often rely on for revenue. However, not depending on businesses for the majority of revenue the borough needs to operate resulted in less of an economic impact on West Easton, than those larger communities felt due to the pandemic.
The City of Easton, for example, has bigger problems than West Easton. Easton Mayor Sal Panto gave his insight into their 2021 budget. He said that a major contributing factor for their current year’s $5.5 million deficit and potential 2021 gap is COVID-19.
Many of Easton’s businesses were shut down and its money generating festivals were canceled during this pandemic.
So, should you hear a resident cRaZy start screaming “Bankruptcy!” again for the 6th straight year, keep doing as you’ve been doing. Ignore the insanity.
Updated to reflect $25,000 in the the 2021 proposed budget is a carry-forward.
Disclaimer: On January 4, 2016, the owner of WestEastonPA.com began serving on the West Easton Council following an election. Postings and all content found on this website are the opinions of Matthew A. Dees and may not necessarily represent the opinion of the governing body for The Borough of West Easton.
