Pennsburg property owners could face a tax hike of nearly $94 next year. Borough Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve and advertise a preliminary 2019 budget with an average tax increase of $93.75 for a property appraised at $125,000.

            Increasing the borough's tax rate from 6.475 mills to 7.225 mills would generate $100,000, according to Administrative Manager Liza Hiltz. The additional funds are necessary to fund repairs at Borough Hall and the municipality's public works garage as well as make much needed street repairs, according to council President Kris Kirkwood.

            After the public budget meeting, Kirkwood listed several streets that might be upgraded, including 8th Street between Main Street and Montgomery Avenue, Penn Street, 5th Street, Dotts Street, Railroad Street and Seminary Street.

            The cash influx is required to help the borough recover from "two devastating years" caused by the dissolution of the Upper Perk Police District over financial and political disagreements with East Greenville, according to Kirkwood.

            "This is a solid budget," he said after the meeting. "It should get it back on track."

            Borough officials are doing what they need to do to provide public safety in the borough, according to Mayor Vicki Lightcap. She said businesses were moving into the municipality because of the police department, and that they want those owners to feel like "when they pick up the phone, someone is going to answer it. Right now, what we're trying to do is keep Pennsburg stable."

            Initially, member F. Robert Seville made a motion to raise the tax rate 0.5 mills, which would have generated an additional $67,389 and increased taxes by approximately $62.50 per property owner, according to calculations during the meeting. Bruce Lord seconded the motion. He said the tax increase was necessary "to keep the borough going" and maintain the size of the Upper Perk Police Department. Bruce Lord seconded the motion.

            Kirkwood then asked how much additional money a 0.75 millage increase would generate. Member Cody Belmont identified that total as less than the average cable bill. Seville then withdrew his original motion and offered a new one at the higher rate. Prior to the vote, members assured the one borough resident in the audience that they had discussed both rate increases on multiple occasions.

After the meeting, Kirkwood stated that he doesn't expect significant public pushback from the proposed increase. "Everyone I've spoken to has confidence in this council to do the right thing," he said after the meeting. According to Lightcap council is looking at the big picture.

            During the meeting, the members considered two budget options. The one they choose started with an $1,800 shortfall. According to Kirkwood, the other version – which showed a surplus of $34,000 – included salary cuts for uniformed and non-uniformed borough employees.

The council president explained that the members worked through six different versions of a budget during a long process.

            "We considered everything," Kirkwood said after the meeting. "We looked at every angle."

            At 7:16, the members went into an executive session with Upper Perk Police's acting Chief Joe Adam and Corporal Jamie Lavin, on loan to the Montgomery County Detectives Unit. They discussed police matters according to an announcement by Kirkwood. They emerged at 7:41 p.m.