Carlisle residents will face a 7% increase in taxes next year with the addition of a new fire tax. The $12 million dollar budget was passed by the narrowest of margins.
The budget resolution and the tax increase require the approval of the mayor. And Mayor Bill Kronenberg is not happy with budget. He told CBS 21 he is considering whether to veto the two documents.
Councilmember Linda Cecconello agrees with Mayor and is one of three members who cast a "no" vote. One of her reasons for opposing the plan are the cuts in the Police Department budget. "We all talk about quality of life in our community, and safety to me is about 90 % of that quality of life. Do we feel safe in our community? Are the services there?"
Cecconello says every department had to make financial cuts in next year's budget. She objects that this year's spending plan still gives money to local organizations, like the library and historical society. "We still gave money to outside agencies this year for their operations when we were cutting from our operations. this was not the year for us to do that."
If the budget ultimately passes, the new fire tax is expected to raise about $300,000. That money can only be used as the name implies, for fire department operations.
A veto by the mayor is possible. The budget passed by a 4-to-3 vote. It takes five votes to override the veto. That means one of three no votes would have to change to yes to override the disapproval of the mayor.
The budget resolution and the tax increase require the approval of the mayor. And Mayor Bill Kronenberg is not happy with budget. He told CBS 21 he is considering whether to veto the two documents.
Councilmember Linda Cecconello agrees with Mayor and is one of three members who cast a "no" vote. One of her reasons for opposing the plan are the cuts in the Police Department budget. "We all talk about quality of life in our community, and safety to me is about 90 % of that quality of life. Do we feel safe in our community? Are the services there?"
Cecconello says every department had to make financial cuts in next year's budget. She objects that this year's spending plan still gives money to local organizations, like the library and historical society. "We still gave money to outside agencies this year for their operations when we were cutting from our operations. this was not the year for us to do that."
If the budget ultimately passes, the new fire tax is expected to raise about $300,000. That money can only be used as the name implies, for fire department operations.
A veto by the mayor is possible. The budget passed by a 4-to-3 vote. It takes five votes to override the veto. That means one of three no votes would have to change to yes to override the disapproval of the mayor.