At Wednesday night's Bowmanstown Borough Council meeting, President William Ravert announced a 1-mill budget increase, equivalent to $14,882, for the proposed 2014 budget. He then announced some of the changes that account for the increase.

One such change, Ravert said, is a $2,000 donation in 2014 to the Bowmanstown Volunteer Fire Department. Ravert suggested that both the 2015 and 2016 budgets also each include a donation to the fire company of $2,000.Ravert explained that $5,000 had initially been budgeted as a donation for the fire company; however, some unexpected expenses came up for next year. In fact, the second change for the 2014 budget, $7,500 needed to finalize the Oak Street project, was the "unexpected expense" to which he was referring, he said.There will also be $2,700 put into the capital savings fund and another $1,805 toward a 2 percent increase for both borough hall workers and the street crew, Ravert added.Councilman Burdell Steigerwalt questioned whether or not the projected $5,900 balance for the end of the year would be enough. To which Ravert replied that they have run the budget almost that tight for about 20 years, rarely going over, and that he expected the same would be true of the 2014 budget.Motions were unanimously approved both to advertise the proposed 2014 budget for public inspection and also to advertise Ordinance 2013-03 Tax Levy with a 1-mill tax increase. Both will be up for adoption at the council's next regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 3.In other business, Ravert mentioned that the Bowmanstown Planning Commission minutes from its October meeting indicated the commission wanted to know "why the borough zoning ordinances are not being enforced … and what action the borough council has taken to enforce the zoning ordinance."Ravert said that zoning enforcement is up to the zoning officer, Duane Dellecker, so any questions regarding the zoning ordinance should first be addressed with him. If they do not get a satisfactory answer from Dellecker, Ravert noted, then it can be brought to the council to address with the solicitor.Planning Commission Vice Chairman Rob Moyer, who was present at the meeting, asked several more questions before the discussion ended.Later, Councilwoman Kara Scott again mentioned the Prince property, noting that she had spoken with Dellecker about the single-use ordinance and how it pertained to the property.Lastly, she noted that Tuesday, Nov. 12, would be the second round of leaf collection in the borough.