EMMAUS, Pa. — As 2024 quickly approaches, Emmaus on Monday crossed its T's and dotting its I's for the new year, giving final passage to its budget, as well as updating fees for residents.
Various resolutions during Borough Council's meeting set service rates, with sewer and water rates unchanged.
The 2024 budget, revealed this month, was passed unanimously with property taxes set at 8.3155 mills — up 0.134 mills, or 1.6% from the 2023 rate of 8.1815 mills.
Various administrative, service and permit fees also were updated, which will be available for reference at borough offices.
Borough Manager Shane Pepe said the main changes are year-to-year costs for pool rates, town hall room rentals and commercial inspection and review fees.
Also approved was an authorization for the borough to undertake $400,000 of debt from Penn Community Bank for "sundry purposes," to be paid back over the next 10 years.
Contract disagreement with East Penn
An agreement recently passed by the East Penn School Districtto take on the hiring of crossing guards from Emmaus came under question as the finalized deal came before a vote.
A final deal was tabled after the deal East Penn passed listed costs of hiring to be split 50/50, rather than Emmaus paying a set annual sum, as the borough hoped.
"We did try to negotiate a set amount with them," borough solicitor Jason Ulrich said. "They said 'No, they won't do that.' This is what they came back with. This is what they passed.
"You could, of course, choose not to enact this agreement, but that would lead to some difficult decisions."
Outgoing Councilman Chris DeFrain said it was not what he expected, and that it should be addressed in the new year once the new council members take their positions.
The shift is because of a sharp decline in volunteer crossing guards after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and follows a similar decision made for Willow Lane Elementary in Lower Macungie Township last year.
In that case, the township transferred responsibility while making payments to the school district.
According to the ordinance transferring authority, Emmaus Police Department will help with providing needed crossing guard training for the street crossing procedures involved, but the school district will be responsible for any additional training, compensation and liability.
Some service rates stay the same, disposal sees increase
Disposal, refuse and compost fees are set at $375 per unit if paid before Feb. 15 — after which it gets raised to $440 per year, divided into bills of $110 per quarter.
That's an increase of $25 for the bulk sum payment, and $10 per quarter increase for the quarterly paymentfrom 2023.
Discounts are available for low-income residents and seniors. Commercial dumpster contracts are also set at $50 annually.
Forms for low income reduced rates must be approved by the borough manager after proof of income is presented by March 1.
Water rates remain unchanged from the 2023 rates, which were increased to meet anticipated cost needed to respond to PFAS contamination of the borough's water supply.
These include quarterly meter rates of:
- $20 for a 5/8" to 3/4" water meter
- $43.43 for 1" to 1 1/2"
- $90.50 for 2"
- $222.77 for 3"
- $355.02 for 4"
- $531.35 for 6"
An additional quarterly cost for a reserve fund to be used toward structural repairs and treatment to the water system also continues from 2023.
These will be billed quarterly as:
- $15 for a 5/8" water meter
- $20.02 for 1"
- $27.97 for 1 1/2"
- $38.14 for 2"
- $53.39 for 3"
- $68.64 for 4"
The 2024 budget for the borough includes a $16 million expense for water treatment infrastructure.
Sewer rates are unchanged from 2023 at $25 per quarter, and $3.75 per 1,000 gallons. To manage repairs and improvements, rates for the borough's sewer reserve fund change depending on water meter size, and are consistent to the 2023 costs.
These quarterly rates, echoing the water reserve fund rates, are:
- $15 for a 5/8" water meter
- $20.02 for 1"
- $27.97 for 1 1/2"
- $38.14 for 2"
- $53.39 for 3"
- $68.64 for 4"
