Media Borough Council Approves 2012 Budget

approved the 2012 budget at its meeting Thursday with no mill change to residents.

The $8.5 million budget brings no tax change to residents. The rate will remain at three mills, which is $375 for the average home assessment of $125,000, Borough Manager Jeff Smith said.

Smith presented the budget to council and residents and explained each fund and expenditure.

Borough Councilman Peter Williamson, who heads the council's finance committee, thanked Smith and his staff for their hard work in putting together the budget and presentation.

"He does have a tremedous mastery of this, this is one of the most important functions of borough government is how we spend tax payers money. And he doesn't like the spotlight but once a year he has to and I think he always shines," Williamson said.

Breaking down the $8.59 million budget, the general fund holds $7.44 million, capital fund $984,200, recreation fund $64,500 and liquid fuels fund $101,500.

"I think we have a very strong budget going in to next year," Williamson said.

A few of the expenditures projected for the 2012 captial fund are maintenance and updating at Borough Hall, which includes elevator updating and sidewalk maintenance at $25,000 and the purchase of two new police vehicles and equipment at $76,200. Public Works is also a larger expenditure at $658,000, which would include road resurfacing and cross walk repairs and the purchase of a dump truck. Maintenance of the parking garage at $125,000 and the purchase of shade sails at the tot lot and a footbridge at Houtman Park at $60,000 are also projected to come from the captial fund. (View the photo gallery for more details on each of the funds.)

Council unanimously approved the budget and millage rate. Councilwoman Dawn Roe was absent from the meeting.

Councilman James Cunningham said the borough is fortunate to have a diverse revenue base however he said future councils are going to have to keep an eye on things.

"We're at the maxinium rates allowed for a non-property tax under state law. That means we can not increase the rate of those taxes. We can only hope the ecomony will improve enough and we'll have additional revenues generated by those rates," he said.

Cunningham said providing maximuin efficient public services, especially public safety, is also a balance with the economic realities we face.

"We have an extrememly capable, efficient and effective pubic safety operation but it's not cheap and it's not going to get cheaper as time goes on," he said. "We have to keep in mind we're fortunate but we're only as fortunate as the economy and our situation will allow. It's not an easy task and I think the future council members have to keep in mind that it's a delicate balance."

Williamson said Cunningham's comments were "right on point."