White Oak budget has tax increase of 1.59 mills
By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com
Real estate taxes in White Oak are going up in 2021.
In a special meeting at White Oak Athletic Association Monday, councilmen Chuck Davis, George Dillinger, Joe Nagy, Kenneth Robb and George Pambacas and Councilwoman Julie Opferman each voted in favor of approving the 2021 budget, which comes with a tax increase of 1.59 mills. Councilman Lou Bender was absent.
The millage increase brings the municipal real estate tax rate to 8.0 mills, up from 6.41 mills.
Councilman George Dillinger, who chairs the finance committee, said properties with an assessed value of $50,000 will see a tax increase of about $79.50 for the year. Properties valued at $100,000 will see a municipal real estate tax bill increase of roughly $159 in 2021 and those valued at $150,000 will see an increase of about $238.50 for the year, Dillinger said.
Borough Manager John Palyo said one mill generates roughly $383,000 for the borough.
Last week, the borough manager cited rising costs of municipal pension and employee health care obligations as part of the reason why a tax increase is necessary in 2021. Dillinger said Monday the beginning of bond payments also contributed to the need for an increase. Council entered into a $7.5 million bond agreement in September 2019. The 2021 general fund budget worksheet shows budget “bond expenses” for 2021 are earmarked at $294,225.
“I would like to mention that when we had our budget meeting with myself, Julie Opferman and Lou Bender and George Pambacas sat in. We initially started off budget talks with roughly a $1,500,000 shortfall in the budget for 2021,” Dillinger said. “We were able to cut that down to roughly about $994,000 in the shortfall. We do have roughly a million dollars in budget surplus, which you could see, even with the surplus that we have, at the end of next year, that surplus will be gone. So, that’s why the tax increase is being proposed this year to cover any shortfalls.
“Also, we did a bond issuance this year.”
A video of the meeting will be uploaded to the borough website, woboro.com, in the next day or two.
