It took the tie-breaking vote of Mayor John Budda, but the Borough of Freeland has a 2021 budget.
Taxpayers in the borough of Freeland will face the first property tax increase in three years after Thursday nightâs vote. Councilmen Joe Murmello and Joe Palko Jr. voted no, while councilmen Matt Krone and Bill DeFrancesco voted yes. Budda broke the tie, approving a budget with a 1-mill property tax increase that Krone said will raise taxes 23.8%, or from $308 to $378 on the average Freeland home, in 2021.
âIâm voting yes because there is increased spending for police officers in the budget,â Mayor Budda said.
The public will have to attend this weekâs Freeland Borough Council meeting on the internet.
At the council work session Thursday night, borough officials discussed Gov. Tom Wolfâs latest COVID-19 order handed down last week that limits indoor gatherings to 10 people.
âIt goes into effect Saturday at midnight,â Wilson Malloy, the boroughâs Emergency Management coordinator, said last week âIt is a temporary order until Jan. 4. All school extracurricular activities are canceled. The general assembly of people is limited to 10 people. That is going to limit council.â
While council members, Mayor John Budda and Borough Secretary Lee Ann Gera can attend the meeting in person at the borough building, Solicitor Joe Baranko can continue to attend via Zoom â as he and members of the public did for Thursdayâs work session.