Financial matters were the topic of Tuesday’s Bradford City Council meeting.
Council heard from Administrator Chris Lucco prior to voting on the 2024 Budget Ordinance.
“So the 2024 budget is still a work in progress. I don’t believe there are any significant changes and there are not any tax increases at this time. However, this is only the first reading, and I want to remind everybody that it will likely be altered by the second reading.”
Council approved the ordinance. Additionally, the 2024 Wage Ordinance and the 2024 Millage Ordinance were also approved.
If the budget passes as is, there will not be a tax increase for city residents, even though expenditures appear to be rising over what was spent in 2023 by approximately $136,825. The total tax rate levied for 2024 for all city purposes is 18.52 mills.
Wages for Bradford City employees will be announced upon final approval, which would take effect Jan. 5, 2024.
Bids for a 2023 or newest model refuse packer were opened during the meeting. Three bids were received. The first, from Bradco Supply Co. of Towanda, came in at $359,867. The second bid, from M&K Truck Centers in Brookville, had two totals due to separate options, either $314,293 or $329,131. The third bid was from R&R Truck Sales in Akron, Ohio, at $347,000; it also had additional options for the city to review.
Council deferred action until a later date when all members have had time to review the materials. Bids from Bradco and R&R had been rejected during the Jan. 10 meeting. For price comparison purposes, in 2008, the city paid $308,000 for two refuse packers.
Members also voted, unanimously, to authorize the execution of a loan agreement in the amount of $59,085 to Juniata Valley Bank for the purchase of a 2023 Ford police vehicle, which will be purchased from Laurel Ford with the upfitting from Team Force Inc.
They also executed an Enterprise Zone Loan agreement with Twin Tier Rentals Co. LLC, through the Office of Economic and Community Development, in the amount of $45,000 for a term not to exceed six and a half years at an interest rate of 3%. Twin Tier Rentals Co. LLC, having satisfactorily met the requirements of the program, will use the funds to acquire all assets, liabilities and business operations of Twin Tier Rentals LLC.
Prior to the council meeting, appropriate members of the pension boards met in council chambers. The aggregate pension board agreed, unanimously, to stay with attorney Sandra Mihok as she transfers to a new firm, Epstein Becker & Green PC, rather than continue with Eckert Seamans. The uniform and the non-uniform pension boards met as well. Both agreed to the matters at hand regarding former employees.
