Draft budget for Ephrata Borough doesn't include tax hike; council to vote on homeless shelters
When: Ephrata Borough Council meeting, Nov. 4.
What happened: While Ephrata Borough officials are still fine-tuning the 2025 budget, the current draft does not include a real estate tax hike.
General fund: The borough's budget and finance committee reported that the general fund balance exceeds the recommended 25% to 50% level mainly due to staff shortages, supply-chain delays and higher than expected interest earnings. Based on year-end projections, revenue will exceed expenses. The borough will likely transfer money from the general fund to the capital reserve fund for building repairs and planned capital projects, according to the report.
Electric fund: Expenses will exceed revenue in the electric fund due to a capital project that has been delayed. Because of that delay, most of the $2 million budgeted in 2024 for the project will remain in the fund.
More: The utility staff may consider a rate increase once the impact of the increases occurring in the PJM power auctions and reduced production at the borough's solar site are known. PJM, the electric transmission provider in the Ephrata area, conducts auctions in which electric companies purchase their transmission costs.
Sanitation fund: The sanitation budget is balanced for 2025, the committee report states, but changes in revenue and expenses due to Ephrata's change to a single trash hauler are unknown. The report expects there will be an increase in hauler cost in October at the one-year anniversary with Good's Disposal. Midway through 2025, borough staff will evaluate and see if an increase in resident charges is needed.
What's next: The borough will release the budget for inspection after council's Nov. 11 meeting.
Homeless shelters: Also at the Nov. 11 meeting, council plans to vote to send a proposed ordinance amendment regarding homeless shelters to the zoning hearing board.
Details: The ordinance requires entities seeking to provide winter shelter to do several things. Shelters must make sure there is adequate supervision and security in place for the maximum number of people admitted. The ordinance calls for at least one staff person per 10 residents with a minimum of two staffers regardless of the number of residents. Each staffer must have training. The shelter may remain in operation from Dec. 21 to March 20. Hours will be 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.
More rules: The applicant must provide adequate space to store occupants' personal items during their stay. Also, the building and grounds must be kept free of trash.
Parking kiosks: Mayor Ralph Mowen brought up concerns about the new kiosk parking downtown. Saying he was "accosted" with complaints from residents and visitors, Mowen expressed concern over the placement of the six computerized kiosks. Of the six kiosks, four were on the south side of Main Street and two on the north side, he said, often requiring lengthy walks by users to access the kiosks.
Quotable: "There are also some businesses who feel that their customer count is declining because of the kiosks and not being able to easily handle the kiosks," Mowen said.
More kiosks: Mowen questioned whether more kiosks would be beneficial.
Parking differences: Council member Kory Musser said there are fewer parking spaces on the north side, which features horizontal parking as opposed to slant parking on the south side. Council member Alan Buohl said the north side has more shade trees, which could affect the solar-powered kiosks.
Parole office: At the Nov. 11 meeting, council will vote to renew its lease with the Lancaster County Parole Office. The four-year extension will see the county paying Ephrata $12,960 in 2025, $13,348.80 in 2026, $13,749.28 in 2027 and $14,161.76 in 2028.
