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Legislative Tally: Tax hikes likely

Locally elected and appointed officials voted on the following matters in the past week:

Federal

• The House voted 237-189 in favor of the 21st Century Flood Reform Act. The legislation increases flood insurance premiums for many property owners to help fund the National Flood Insurance Program. The bill includes provisions to protect property owners in flood-prone areas from even steeper rate hikes or from being removed from the program. Voting yes were U.S. Reps. Tom Marino, R-Cogan Station, and Glenn “G.T.” Thompson, R-Howard.

• The House voted 227-205 in favor of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, a $1.5 trillion overhaul of business and personal income taxes. Voting yes were U.S. Reps. Tom Marino, R-Cogan Station, and Glenn “G.T.” Thompson, R-Howard.

State

• The Senate and House were not in session during the week.

County

• The Lycoming County commissioners approved an amendment to an agreement with the West Branch Regional Authority allowing the authority to redirect $1 million saved after the completion of the Route 15 Corridor Sanitary Sewer extension project to a public water project expected to begin in the Route 15 corridor in 2018, pending a grant. The commissioners also approved a number of professional service agreements for the Juvenile Probation Office, giving the office more options for juvenile detention, programs and other needed services. Furthermore, the commissioners appointed Brian Brooking to serve on the Lycoming County Housing Authority with term expiration of Dec. 31, 2022.

Municipal

• Montoursville Borough Council voted 5-1 to approve a 2018 spending plan that hikes real estate taxes 0.70 mills. Voting yes were Eric Greenway, Mark Tillson, Rosemary Holmes, Ted Haines and Tina Kline. Voting no was Christopher Lucas.

• The Loyalsock Township supervisors had the first reading of the township’s upcoming budget showing a decrease of 0.2 mills in taxes for 2018. The decrease means the 0.5-mill tax rate will cost $50 on an average home valued at $100,000. The supervisors also voted to prohibit a mini-casino from going up in the township. The township’s supervisors said no in their vote Tuesday, but that resolution could be altered in the future. By passing the resolution now, the supervisors have more control over the development of a casino in the future. Voting on all matters were Marc Sortman, Virginia Eaton, Rick Wheeland and Paul Nyman. John Bower Jr. was absent.

• The South Williamsport Borough Council approved its 2018 budget including a 0.32-mill tax increase to improve the functionality of the fire department. The current tax rate in the borough is 4.8 mills. Although the general purpose and sewer tax rates won’t see any changes under the new budget, the borough’s fire protection rate will double- making the total millage 5.12. The fire protection rate, now at 0.64 mills, has never seen an increase since it’s been implemented. The 0.32 mills translates to a $32 increase on an average home valued at $100,000. Voting to approve the budget were Cory Lehman, Robert Cronin, Joseph LaRue Jr., John Decker, David Geise and Henry Frey Jr. Abstaining were J. Bernard Schelb, Carl Nolan and Fred March.

School District

• The Williamsport Area School Board approved Wanda M. Erb as business administrator for the district at a salary of $125,000 effective July 1, 2018. Jeffrey Richards, the current district business administrator, will be retiring. It also approved that the district’s revenue sources will be sufficient to balance the 2018-19 school district final budget without having to exceed the Act 1 Index. Voting yes were members Lori Baer, Spencer Sweeting, Jennifer Lake, Patrick Dixon, Dr. Nancy Story Somers, Dr. Jane Penman, Scott Williams and Dr. Robin Knauth. Member Jerene Milliken was absent.

• The Jersey Shore Area School Board discussed the possibility of having to close one or two of its three elementary schools, as well as making program cuts or a combination of the two, in order to reduce the district’s deficit budget. The district anticipates the schools in question are Avis or Salladasburg elementaries. Present at the meeting were Craig Allen, Karen Stover, Merrill Sweitzer, Christopher Fravel, Denise Smith, Mary Thomas, Loren Koch and Kelley Wasson. David Hines was absent.

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