No Lock Haven Tax Hike in 2019; New Police Officers Approved

LOCK HAVEN – It’s now official, the City of Lock Haven budget for 2019. The city’s real estate millage will remain unchanged next year, this by way of a unanimous vote at Monday night’s council meeting. The document is almost identical with the applicable ordinance introduced and passed on first reading in November,

Motions unanimously approved were on the 2019 appropriations ordinance and the 2019 tax levy ordinance. City manager Greg Wilson said there was just one minor change since the November introduction, an increase of $39,000 in anticipated end-of-year revenue. And as noted in November, the effective real estate tax rate actually will be slightly reduced, from 9.06 mills this year to 9.0571 in 2019.

City council also moved to fill three existing vacancies on the city police force, approving an offer of employment to three prospective probationary patrol officers. Successful Civil Service Commission candidates, per Police Chief Kristin Smith, are Brad Coder from State College, Kristian VonKiel from Kutztown and Brandon Schrimp from Williamsport.

Chief Smith later told the news media the city force presently has 11 officers, down from its authorized 14 members. The vacancies occurred over the last year: the resignation of former chief Keith Kibler who became a district judge, one officer who resigned upon moving and one officer who was terminated.

Smith said the city Civil Service Commission this past summer had advertised for candidates but without success and had to go through the process a second time. This time around the commission processed eight candidates and passed along the names of the three finalists for city approval. Smith said if everything works out, the new officers would join the city force on Jan. 2.

The Monday meeting set something of a record, lasting just 15 minutes.