Another no tax-hike budget in the offing for Lock Haven

LOCK HAVEN, PA – Here it is in a nutshell for Lock Haven taxpayers in 2022: No real estate tax increase and no increase in sewer or water fees for city customers.

City manager Greg Wilson offered up that continued good budget news for taxpayers as city council Monday night conducted a public hearing on city administration’s proposed almost $5.5 million general fund budget. Wilson noted there is not a lot of margin for error without a tax hike in 2022, as proposed with only $25,000 estimated at to be left at the end of next year. He called the fiscal plan “a bit of a tight squeeze to fit into but I’ll do my best to meet that goal.”

Revenue has been lagging this year due to the pandemic, Wilson told council. He noted the current fiscal year has also taken a hit for snow removal. “This year, the city spent more than $204,000 in snow removal. If you compare that to 2019, we spent $35,000.”

Wilson told council, “This year was not without challenges, which is an understatement. Knowing the sentiment of council was not to entertain raising the real estate millage during the pandemic, I have kept to that goal.”

Council heard budget requests for the new year from Bonnie Hannis of the Clinton County Historical Society, Kira Rosamilia with Downtown Lock Haven Inc. and Tammy Garrison from the Ross Library.

The proposed budget document was to be available on the city’s website as of Tuesday of this week.

In council actions Monday night: council voted unanimously to remove the suspended 4-way light at W. Main and First Streets; four-way stop signs will remain in place at the intersection; also Jacqui Conklin was appointed City Health Officer with all affirmative votes other than an abstention from her husband/council member Rick Conklin. She replaces outgoing City Health Officer Patty Jones who has been the Health Officer for 12 years since first appointed July 2009 who is retiring from the position.