Employees to pay portion of insurance bills

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HUGHESVILLE - Although borough council passed a no-tax hike budget that shows $722,000 in revenues and expenses, municipal employees are now going to pay for their insurance.

In 2008, the borough paid 100 percent of an employee's medical benefits, but for 2009, council added two additional benefits, a $25,000 life insurance policy and short-term disability insurance with full-time employees having to pay for a fraction of their health care.

At Monday night's meeting, council actually voted to decrease the amount of deductions that come out of the employees pay for their health insurance.

A single person will pay $20 bi-weekly, a spouse $45, a family $70. Council also decided to increase the employee raises from 3-percent to 4-percent to cover some of the costs.

Bob Carichner was the lone "no" vote in the matter.

The budget also shows an 8.3-percent increase from last year's budget of $666,500. Even though spending is expected to increase, council held the line on raising taxes.

The millage rate is 3.9 mills for real-estate taxes and 0.06 mills for curbing and alley taxes. A homeowner with a house worth $90,000 pays $351 in real-estate taxes. One mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

In other news, council voted against a 3-percent cost of living increase for the two retired police officers drawing from the police pension fund.

Bob Carichner was the lone "no" vote in the matter. He said he felt the officers served the community well when they worked and thus were entitled to the cost of living increase.

He made a motion for the 3-percent increase but it died for lack of a second.

It also was announced that council received three letters on intent for Cindy Shaner's First-Ward council seat. Council will continue to collect letters, meet with the candidates and choose a replacement at the next meeting.