HAZLETON, Pa. â Hazleton City Council voted down three mayoral vetoes on Tuesday night, leaving in place a 9.7% increase in property tax for 2021.Â
Last week, Mayor Jeff Cusat vetoed the budget because of an issue with police funding. He also vetoed the ordinance setting the property tax at 6.78 mills, up from 6.18. Cusat had sought a bigger increase in his draft budget.Â
Cusat said in his veto statement that cuts in the police budget could threaten eligibility for a federal Community Oriented Policing Services grant that would pay for four more officers.  Â
Council unanimously struck down the budget and millage vetoes.Â
Council President James Perry said the police funding issue could be resolved with financial transfers, not a new budget. The city's goal is to boost the force to 46 officers from 42. Â