Bradford City Council passed on first reading Tuesday night a millage ordinance that would raise property taxes half a mill for 2017.
However, Mayor Tom Riel said to expect that to change.
“This includes a half-mill tax increase,” he said of the ordinance. “I think there’s a few things we can do to make that less before the next meeting.”
He voted “yes” on first reading, adding, “Reluctantly.”
Riel added that he would not vote for a tax increase at the Dec. 27 meeting.
The millage rate approved on first reading was 18.02, up from 17.52. The tax rate for general revenue is proposed at 10.46 mills, up from 9.86 mills. That would mean $1.046 on each $100 assessed valuation of real property.
For bond indebtedness and for sinking fund requirements for the payment of loans and temporary debts, the millage rate is proposed as 3.88 mills, up from 3.82 mills. For recreation, the proposed rate is 3.54 mills, a decrease from the 2016 rate of 3.7 mills.
For a person with a $50,000 home, the proposed increase would be about $30.
“The budget is a work in progress as it is every year at this time,” Riel said after the meeting, adding, “it usually does change by the last meeting.”
Also at the meeting, council authorized the annual tax anticipation loan for $750,000. The lender is Northwest Bank, with interest of 1.49 percent. The loan provides the city with operational funds until tax revenue begins to fill the city’s coffers.
A payment to E&M Engineers of $3,835 was approved for additional engineering work and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation submittals for a redesign of the Davis Street streetscape project. According to the resolution, changes were necessary because of the elimination of a portion of the streetscape work at the sidewalk of Tops Friendly Markets “due to an issue with securing an easement from Tops.”
In other news, council authorized the Office of Economic and Community Development (OECD) entering into a lease agreement with the Landmark Cafe for commercial restaurant space at 30 Boylston St.
The cafe will be owned by Jennifer Forney, and is slated to open in the spring.
An administrative agreement for the Bradford Family YMCA capital improvement project was authorized as well. The YMCA has received initial approval of a $500,000 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant that will be used to undertake building improvements at their facilities at 59 Boylston St. Officials with the YMCA have asked the OECD to prepare the grant application and administer the grant program, and will pay $12,000 for expenses related to the preparation and administration.
The next council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 27.
