Latest Hatboro Budget Projection Shows $52 Tax Hike

What started out as a has since been reduced to a $195,000 shortfall as the Hatboro governing body seeks other options to balance its 2012 budget.

And officials, on Monday after introducing an ordinance that would raise taxes $52 per every $100,000 of assessed property, said those options are, essentially, making additional to the roughly $4 million spending plan.

"Right now everything's on the table," Councilman Vincent LaSorsa said afterward, noting that the council is not looking at any one area in particular. To date, cuts have been made to the borough's streep sweeping, night-time lights on York Road and the elimination of the D.A.R.E. program taught in .

Borough Manager Steven Plaugher said the budget subcommittee would meet again prior to Dec. 19, when final budget adoption is planned. By combing through the budget further, he said the planned tax increase may be able to be reduced more.

"We still have the ability to tweak it and we still are," Plaugher said.

In terms of the proposed 2012 budget line items to date, resident John Farnen, a long-time volunteer with Hatboro's , questioned why the Hatboro Main Street program had not been allotted the increase as had been requested and asked who would "replace the service" provided by .

"I’m sure there’s somebody in this area who’s going to pick up his talent," Farnen said, referring to a that Main Street President Bob Johnston had requested for Barth, a borough contractor, who is budgeted to earn $37,500 in 2012. "It’s going to be a very big hole once he’s gone."

Councilwoman Nancy Guenst, who had urged the rest of council to approve the increase, said she was "anxious to see what the does with that."

The council also discussed taking out a tax anticipation note - also called a bridge loan - to provide a "cushion" from February until tax revenues are paid in April and the general fund reflects an anticipated $1.8 million. The tax anticipation note, estimated to be about $400,000, would be repaid in less than a year, officials said.

"We’re not desolate, or destitute by any means," Council President Marianne Reymer said.

Councilman Bill Tompkins said the loan could help in covering "a potential cash flow problem" for borough monies paid for the $1 million until the state doles out its reimbursements.