At its meeting on Tuesday night, Bally Borough Council agreed to advertise its 2025 budget which is expected to be adopted at its December borough council meeting.  The total budget is $2,770,000.  The millage rate is 5.3 mills. 

            The budget encompasses a separate .5 mill tax for Bally Ambulance and a .5 mill tax to benefit the all-volunteer Eastern Berks Fire Company. 

            The total tax increase of 1 mil will attempt to offset the rising costs the emergency services face in their efforts to assist residents of Bally.  Over the last few years expenses have increased for emergency services while sources of revenue have not kept pace.  As a result, ambulances and fire departments in the region have approached local municipalities for assistance with their expenses. 

            For example, if a fire department or ambulance service needs to upgrade its equipment it faces a daunting task to acquire a loan from a bank.  Banks usually require a guaranteed source of income for a loan that most fire departments and ambulance services do not possess. 

            Medicare will fund at least part of an ambulance call, but, frequently, Medicare pays much later than the service call occurred.  Private insurance companies reimburse their insured customers.  Unfortunately, the insured customer does not always pay the ambulance service.

            Fundraisers and membership fees do not in any way cover the expenses of the emergency services.  It was mentioned that some municipalities do not provide any funds to emergency services while one municipality, Gilbertsville, Douglass, Montgomery County, provides $312,000 in tax revenue for its emergency ambulance service. 

            Bally Ambulance receives approximately $2,500 in compensation from Gilbertsville's general fund for the service it provides to the municipality.  Bally Ambulance is routinely called into Montgomery County to assist with an emergency.

            The burden to provide resources for emergency services rests solely on local municipalities.  The state provides very little to municipalities for emergency services.  However, municipalities are mandated by the state to provide emergency services for their citizens.

            A representative of Bally Ambulance was asked what would happen if each municipality it covers enacted a .5 mill tax.  He replied, "We would be solvent." 

            Borough Manager Wendy Mutter noted, "If an ambulance service fails, neighboring ambulance services must make up the difference.  If one ambulance is stretched too far, no one has good service."

            In other public services, the borough council agreed to employ two additional part-time police officers for its police department. Also, until further notice, Berks County has issued a county-wide ban on open burning.

            The borough council informed representatives of the Park Place Home Owners Association and the senior center they must make an application to use the municipal building.  Additionally, they must provide proof of insurance.  Then, the borough council will decide whether to permit the HOA to utilize the municipal building for its HOA meetings. 

            Council President Glenn Mutter noted the borough council provides funds, personnel, and services for the borough pool.  Maintenance for the borough pool is provided by funds in the borough budget that are set aside specifically for the pool.

            The borough council will apply for an LSA grant to complete improvements to its municipal building.  Thus far the borough has received $366,000 from an LSA grant for an extension to the police department's portion of the municipal building.  The grant is less than half of what the borough needs to complete upgrades to the entire building.

            On Saturday, November 23, the Bally Area Recreational Development Society (BARDS) will sponsor a craft and bake sale at the Bally Mennonite Church located along Route 100 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.

            The Christmas tree lighting ceremony will occur in front of the municipal building on December 7th at 6:30 p.m.  Santa will be present followed by the tree lighting at 7 p.m.  The rain date for the ceremony is December 14.  BARDs will sponsor a raffle at the event.  Residents are encouraged to bring an ornament to decorate the tree.