The good news for Walnutport residents is that they won’t see an increase in their municipal tax bills next year.

However, borough council’s decision on Thursday to unanimously adopt the 2021 budget with no millage increase didn’t come without a cost.

In order to balance the budget and avoid a tax increase, council opted not to continue to fund the Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority.

Councilwoman Jennifer Wentz said, “Originally the deficit we were looking at we were able to wipe out (with a caveat),” Wentz said. “We cut where we could.”

Wentz said the police department took the biggest hit, as about $20,000 was cut, with its part-time police officer pool most affected.

However, she said that in order for council to arrive at a balanced budget, it would not be able to fund the NL Rec Authority next year.

Further, Wentz said in the event taxes would have been raised, she wouldn’t have done so unless it would have gone back to the police department.

“I do not want a tax increase,” Wentz said. “I don’t think people can afford it.”

Councilwoman Patrice Hunsicker stuck up for the NL Rec Authority, and in particular, NL Rec Authority Executive Director Lindsay Taylor.

Hunsicker said that since Taylor has come on, the Northern Lehigh community has been brimming with activities, and the overall morale has flourished.

Wentz said she agreed with Hunsicker, but added, “It hurt to cut; it really did.”

Hunsicker said it’s a shame the borough couldn’t come up with the funds to support the NL Rec Authority.

“I think we’re losing a really good program for this community,” Hunsicker said. “I’m going to suggest that you make the phone call to Lindsay.”

Wentz said the decision to not fund the NL Rec Authority next year had nothing to do with Taylor.

“I don’t think anyone feels she didn’t do a good job,” Wentz said.

On a 6-1 vote, council passed a resolution to withdraw funding to the NL Rec Authority in 2021. Hunsicker was opposed.

Funding cuts

After the meeting, Wentz said it would have cost the borough a little over $15,000 to fund the group.

In October, Slatington Borough Council voted 5-2 to continue funding NL Rec Authority next year. But they will donate $2 less per resident than they did this year.

Slatington council agreed to provide $5.50 per resident in 2021, or $22,276.

That was less than the $7.50 per resident the borough provided this year.

The Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority, a multimunicipal authority supported by the boroughs of Walnutport and Slatington and Washington Township,

Washington Township Manager Todd Weidman said Monday that there is money allocated in the township’s 2021 budget.

“We didn’t make a specific decision, or have a specific meeting, about the Rec Authority,” Weidman said.

“When we did the budget, there was money allocated in it for the Rec Authority.”

Weidman noted the amount allocated is $50,000, the same as it was this year.

“We do have money in the budget for that allocation,” he said. “But, obviously the board will have to decide whether or not it will be allocated in full.”

The recreation authority provides programs for Slatington, Walnutport and Washington Township.

NL project on hold

Also on Thursday, council briefly discussed a resolution to support the Northern Lehigh Community Center.

Hunsicker attempted to squelch the notion that the project has been dissolved, adding that the project is on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Council did not take any action on the resolution.

Last month, Hunsicker said Walnutport’s contribution would have been $7.50 per capita, but that they were looking to reduce that rate to somewhere between $6 and $6.50.

Hunsicker said at that time none of the municipalities want Taylor to leave.

Taxes

Council’s decision to not raise taxes will leave the millage rate at 19.25 mills.

That decision comes one month after council advertised the 2021 preliminary budget with a half-mill increase, along with an estimated $30,000 to $40,000 rollover, to balance the budget.

A half-mill increase would have raised the millage rate from 19.25 to 19.75 mills, though several council members vowed they did not want to raise taxes next year.

Last December, council on a 4-1 vote adopted the 2020 budget with a half-mill increase, which raised the millage rate from 18.75 to 19.25 mills, and meant that a homeowner with a home assessed at $50,000 paid about $25 more to the borough this year in taxes.