City Council Reviews $13.6 Million Proposed Budget and Triangle Park Requests

LOCK HAVEN – With a proposed 2025 budget of almost a million dollars less than last year, Lock Haven City Council gave the public opportunity to speak about it at their Monday evening meeting. The proposed budget totals $13,659,082.

Included in the proposed budget is a drop in millage tax rates for general, unimproved land down from 28 mills in 2024 to 20 mills in 2025, but an increase in buildings/improvements to 9.8 mills in 2025, an increase from 6.1 mills in 2024. This means that while general land taxes have dropped, buildings/home taxes have increased by 3.4 mills for 2025. One mill is equal to $1 of property tax for every $1,000 in assessed value.

Representatives from the Sewer and Airport briefly spoke. The salary and benefits for a Chief Operator for the Sewer is included in the proposed 2025 budget and is a position that is in high need due to annual paperwork and compliance with DEP and EPA.

The Sewer plant sees 2.4 million gallons of wastewater per day for city residents and other local municipalities, and currently services over 30 miles of underground pipes.

The airport saw an increase of 19% in arrivals and departures during 2024, and sales of aviation fuel increased by 0.4%, otherwise staying “pretty much even” with the previous year.

In other news, Council heard from a local resident who spoke out against the events of last week’s meeting, citing the aggression from residents for “not getting what they want,” threats, homophobic hate, and the echoes of anti-semitic statements heard in the back of the room.

City Council unanimously passed the following dates for the closure of North Grove Street at The Old Corner for open-air dining and live music. The road will be closed at 3 PM Saturday through 1 AM Sunday for the following dates: May 23-24, June 13-14, June 20-21, July 11-12, July 25-26, August 8-9, August 22-23. Music will end at 11 PM on Saturday nights.

City Council also passed the most recent use of Triangle Park for the celebration of events in December through January 11, 2025.

Alex DiCostanzo and Two Maidens, LLC requested to place inflatable holiday displays
in Triangle Park from December 3 to January 11, 2025 for Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Saturnalia, Yule, Festivus, and Bodhi Day. Each display will be accompanied by a plaque describing the holiday origin and traditions.

City Councilman Steve Stevenson questioned DiCostanzo, asking if he was “a mouthpiece for someone else asking to represent them and to request these holiday celebrations in Triangle Park.” DiCostanzo replied, saying that he “will speak out for the people in the community who will not come out publicly.”

Councilman Jeff Brinker asked for a diagram and plan for the use of the park, citing that there are presently no ordinances in place for the height of inflatables, and that there are “present difficulties” with power sources at the park, and that lights “are currently out” in case it is not possible to get that resolved.

“Regardless how people feel, our Triangle Park is a freedom of speech location…last week, the vote should have been 7-0 in favor, and everything going forward should be passed regardless if we (council) like it, it is a legal principle,” Brinker said.