WAYNESBORO, Pa. - It has been a few years since real estate taxes have increased in Waynesboro and the Borough Council voted Wednesday night to hold the line again in 2009, keeping property taxes at 17.18 mills.
At the same time, the borough's nonunion employees will see an increase of 3 percent in salary and wages in the $9.6 million budget. The 20 officers and patrolmen of the police department will get 4 percent in 2009 under the terms of their contract, while the five paid drivers for the fire department will receive a 3 percent increase under their current contract, said Borough Manager Lloyd Hamberger.
"I'm always very conservative in estimating receipts and I always look at the worst case in expenditures," Hamberger said of his estimates in the spending package.
With taxes remaining at $17.18 for every $1,000 of assessed value on properties, the budget estimates collections in the coming year at $1,067,000. Earned income tax revenues are projected at $785,000 and realty transfer taxes revenues - a tax on the sale of property - are expected to bring in $175,000.
