Hazleton Mayor Jeff Cusat vetoed three ordinances pertaining to the 2021 budget, prompting the council president to consider scheduling a meeting early next week to discuss whether the governing body should further amend the spending plan or override the veto.
Cusat announced in an email Friday that he is vetoing ordinances that appropriate funds and establish property tax rates for 2021, as well as legislation that authorizes the city to levy and collect the mercantile tax.
Cusat said his veto of the budget ordinance was due to council reducing a police salary line item by $329,000 â a move that he said eliminates expenses and would allow the city to hire four officers under a Community Oriented Policing Services grant. The grant would increase the number of full-time police positions to 46, he said.