Sewer Authority Update

As mentioned in my April Council Meeting Update the Sewer Authority is planning on changing their rates.

They are planning on voting on the resolution to amend their fee schedule at tomorrow night's Sewer Authority Meeting. It begins at 7:30PM EDT, is open to the public and you are more than welcome to attend.

Council Meeting Update

I know I've been delinquent (sorry . . . ) and I owe you an update of last week's Borough Council meeting. I hope to have something up by the end of the week. Stay tuned!

Rep. Grucela Announces a NASD Property Tax Reduction

I got this in an email from Rep. Grucela this morning:

I’m pleased to announce that homeowners living in the Nazareth Area School District can expect to see an estimated $218 reduction in their school property taxes this summer.

The cuts for Nazareth Area homeowners are made possible by the more than $612 million in slots proceeds in the state’s Property Tax Relief Fund. The school district will receive the slots money from the state and will use it to adjust local homeowners’ property tax bills.

Coupled with the property tax relief available to low-income seniors who need it most through the expanded Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, the state will provide more than $786 million in tax cuts next year.

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program offers rebates of up to $650, but for seniors who earn less than $30,000 and whose property taxes are more than 15 percent of their income, the rebate will be increased by an additional 50 percent.

Although complete property tax elimination is my ultimate goal, and I have a proposal before the House that would address the antiquated school funding formula, the property tax relief that Nazareth Area homeowners will see this summer is a welcome first step.

2008-2009 Nazareth Area School District Calendar

For those of you who are interested, the Nazareth Area School District has posted their approved 2008-2009 School Calendar on their website.

For planning purposes, I thought I'd outline some key dates:

AUGUST
8/22: First day for staff (Professional Development)
8/25: Orientation for Kindergarten, Grade 6 and Grade 9; No school for other students.
8/26: First day of school for all students
8/29: No school for students

SEPTEMBER
9/1: No school - Labor Day Holiday

OCTOBER
10/13 and 10/14: No school for students

NOVEMBER
11/21 through 11/25: Early Dismissal; Parent Teacher Conferences
11/26: Early Dismissal
11/27 and 11/28: Thanksgiving Holiday

DECEMBER
12/1: Thanksgiving Holiday
12/23: Early Dismissal
12/24 through 12/31: Winter Break

JANUARY
1/1 and 1/2: Winter Break
1/19: No school for students

FEBRUARY
2/16: No school - President's Day Holiday

MARCH
3/17 through 3/19: Early Dismissal - Parent Teacher Conferences

APRIL
4/6 through 4/13: Spring Break (** NOTE ** 4/6 and 4/7 are designated as the "First and Second Snow Make-up Days")

MAY
5/15: Early Dismissal
5/25: No school - Memorial Day Holiday

JUNE
6/3 - 6/4: Early Dismissal
6/5: Early Dismissal - Last Day of School
6/8: Snow Make-up Day
6/9: Snow Make-up Day

You can download/print a copy of it here.

Tonight's Council Meeting - Preliminary Agenda

Some topics for discussion at tonight's council meeting will include:

1. The bids for the construction of the basketball / volleyball courts on the new High Street Park.

2. Approval of the 4-way stop sign ordinance at the corner of High and Sixth Streets.

3. Status of the street lighting in the Tatamy Hunt sub-division.

4. Signature Homes is expected to ask for an extension to file their final subdivision plans. They are looking to develop the field in North Tatamy to the north of Main Street (the plot of land between Equipto and the houses already in North Tatamy).

I hope to see some of you there!