At its first public meeting of the new year Thursday night, the Greater Pottsville Area Sewer Authority adopted its 2014 budget without any rate increases.
The residential rate will remain $127.50 per quarter, per unit, according to Timothy R. Yingling, the authority's executive director. He could not recall the last time the residential rate was changed, but said it hadn't been for a few years.
The budget was passed at the meeting at the authority's headquarters on the third floor of City Hall in Pottsville with a motion from Henry J. Minnig Jr., the authority's assistant treasurer. It was seconded by Robert J. Quinn Jr., the authority's first vice chairman, and carried unanimously with votes from Ian H. Lipton, the authority's president; J. Donald Kerns, the authority's treasurer; and Beth Ann Shields, the authority's secretary.
The 2014 budget anticipates a total income of $9,322,504, anticipated total expenditures of $5,982,041 and an anticipated balance of $3,340,463 by Dec. 31, 2014.
In comparison, the 2013 budget had a total income of $9,306,215 and total expenditures of $5,958,706 and a balance of $3,347,509 by Dec. 31, 2013, according to Yingling.
When the authority approved its 2013 budget in January 2013, the anticipated total income was $9,440,395, anticipated total expenditures of $6,271,345 and an anticipated balance of $3,169,050 by Dec. 31, 2013, according to Yingling.
In other matters, the board started the meeting with its annual reorganization. With a motion by Shields which was seconded by Minnig and carried unanimously, the board decided to keep the same slate of officers it had in 2013.
The board also unanimously reappointed Thomas W. Schreffler from Light-Heigel & Associates Inc., Schuylkill Haven, as its engineer, and Edward M. Brennan, an attorney from Pottsville, as its solicitor.
The board also unanimously decided to hire Jones & Co., Pottsville, as its 2013 auditor at a cost of $9,800, which is the same rate the firm charged last year, Yingling said.
