ETNA GREEN – Town councilmen voted Tuesday to cover a $33,398 budget shortfall using Economic Development Income Tax funds. They also held a public hearing for a 2014 budget of $338,774, which includes $174,417 in the general fund, $48,800 in motor vehicle highway and $10,900 in local roads and streets. They will vote on budget adoption at the Oct. 8 meeting. Etna Green councilmen learned last month of an approximate $35,000 impact on next year’s general fund balance from declining revenue. Clerk-Treasurer Laura Baker had said it was the first time they had to cut the fund. She said Tuesday that the impact was slightly lessened by a $2,132 adjustment to hydrant rental payments for this year. She also said the transfer of EDIT funds to the general fund, which was suggested last month, would be allowed. Baker observed that the EDIT fund has a balance of about $100,000 and is expected to receive payments next year that will basically leave it flat after the fund transfer. Etna Green uses EDIT funds for infrastructure expenses such as parks, streets and sidewalks. Councilmen also discussed how the town might defray hydrant rental costs, which added up this year to about $39,676 for 50 hydrants. The payments are transfered from the general fund to cover water used by the Etna Township Volunteer Fire Department, since the department isn’t charged for water use. A fee tacked onto water bills for four years would amount to about $14 per customer, but council members expressed uncertainty over whether they were willing to go that route. There was also some debate over whether it would be fair to charge everyone or only properties with a hydrant in front. A property tax increase to cover hydrant rental is another option. Town attorney Jay Rigdon observed that the argument could be made for either approach. “In theory, everybody in town benefits from hydrant protection,” he said.
