Pocono News Section

Dunmore Passes New Budget; Tax Hike

Dunmore Passes New Budget; Tax Hike - Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 11:18AM EST

Reported by: Mark Hiller
Wednesday, Jan 6, 2010 @ 11:18am EST

DUNMORE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - Property owners in part of Lackawanna County face a significant tax hike for the new year.

Dunmore borough council built the tax increase into an 11-million dollar budget passed Tuesday night.

"It's gonna hurt an awful lot of people," said Dunmore homeowner Sam Sica.

He couldn't hide his unhappiness while spending part of his Wednesday at the Buck Town Diner on Drinker Street.

"I think we as taxpayers have to start going to our council meetings," said Sica. "We've got to start checking into what the borough's all about."

Dunmore council decided the cash-strapped borough had no choice but to make property owners pay more.

The tax increase translates to $90 more a year for a property assessed at $10,000
Reaching that new Dunmore budget wasn't just about raising taxes. It was also about shaving salaries, nearly $200,000 worth, in various services provided in the borough.

The spending plan cuts more than $76,000 from DPW salaries and more than $50,000 combined between part-time police and firefighters.

Some say the cuts should have gone deeper.

"You go down to the borough, you have a lot of people working in that building," said Sica.

Paul Laboranti of Scranton used to live in Dunmore. His 78-year-old father still does and can't understand why services cost so much.

"What services is my father getting up there? He's not getting anything. What services?

Laboranti says it's not fair for his dad and other property owners to deal with the pinch of a big tax increase.

"And every time they raise taxes, the value of your property goes down because who wants to buy property in Dunmore when the taxes keep going up."

Dunmore borough is trying to get a 1-million dollar tax anticipation loan this week.

The money would be used to pay borough salaries and bills.