PICTURE ROCKS - Borough Council approved a 2013 budget Monday night that holds the line on real estate taxes.
"It appears the new tax collection system for municipalities and schools is working," said borough Secretary Bill Dorman.
The 2013 budget expects $58,000 in revenue to come from the recently implemented Lycoming County unified tax collection system.
Council President Eugene Otterbein noted that budgeted expenses for 2013 are more than $600 lower than in 2012.
Estimated total revenue for Picture Rocks' general fund in 2013 is $124,621, an increase of $5,415 over this year.
The borough will receive $37,865 in state liquid fuels funding, monies that must be spent on snow removal and road maintenance.
The initial 2013 payment from Act 13 gas drilling impact fees, a total of $16,238, already is in the borough's coffers, Dorman said.
One notable line item in the borough's budget is $6,500 to repair the enclosed pavilion at Van Renssalaer Park.
"We need to do something with the floor, secure the base and put vinyl siding up," Dorman said. "And if we need to spend a little more, the Act 13 money can be used."
The budget includes $5,000 toward the purchase of a new generator for Picture Rocks Volunteer Fire Co.
"We've got a grant that we're holding for (the generator)," said Fire Chief Al Little. "We got an estimate before we applied for the grant, then when we got (the grant) they said the generator is three times that much."
In other business, council discussed a notice in Monday's Sun-Gazette that Select Energy Services will apply to the state Department of Environmental Protection for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit into Muncy Creek from its Picture Rocks facility.
"We need to see what they're going to do and how much they want to drain in case of a high water situation," Otterbein said.
Council's next meeting is 7 p.m. on Jan. 7 at borough hall, 55 S. Main St.
