Mayor: City will take ‘necessary measures’ to hold line on taxes

Mayor Gabriel J. Campana doesn't want a 2010 city budget with a tax increase.

His 2009 budget proposal was handed back to him a year ago by council and changed to include a 1-mill real estate tax increase, but a message from the mayor Friday indicates he will try to prevent that from happening a second time.

In e-mail message, Campana reported that the "final numbers (were still) being tabulated," but made clear he doesn't want another tax increase.

"Many residents are having difficulty during this national recession," he wrote. "Like the business sector, I will evaluate all costs and do what is right for the consumer (the citizens of Williamsport)."

He concluded, promising: "Necessary measures will be taken to present a zero-tax-increase (budget) for 2010."