Council members in Hazleton upheld the estimated $12.5 million spending plan that they adopted earlier this month and made assurances that the city will restore funds that were cut from the police budget.
Council upheld three ordinances that are key to shaping the 2021 budget, as the governing body cast three consecutive votes to override the mayorâs veto of a budget appropriations ordinance and ordinances that set the property tax rate and levy the mercantile tax.
The votes essentially uphold the budget that council adopted in mid-December, which increases the millage rate by 9.7%, or from 6.18 mills this year to 6.78 mills in 2021.
More changes in store for Hazleton city budget
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City taking a different approach to quality of life enforcement
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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.