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Carlisle council hears six‑month financial review showing mixed revenue shifts
Summary
Finance staff presented a high‑level six‑month (through June 30) review showing the general fund largely on track, some enterprise funds with higher capital spending and a large one‑time revenue swing tied to prior grants and equipment sales.
Carlisle Borough Council received a six‑month financial update on Sept. 3, 2025, that showed the borough’s general fund largely in line with expectations but several enterprise funds with higher capital spending and one‑time revenue swings.
Jason Cohen, who delivered the update, said the snapshot covered borough operating funds through June 30 and highlighted year‑over‑year variances. “Generally speaking, the general fund is largely in line with expectations,” Cohen said.
Cohen told council that some year‑over‑year comparisons are skewed by one‑time items. He said supply, services and utilities in the general fund are down about 25 percent compared with 2024 because of a one‑time transfer to the capital fund in January 2024. Debt service payments are down about 31 percent from 2024, which he attributed to scheduled principal reductions.
On the revenue side, Cohen reported a roughly 3 percent increase in real‑property tax receipts and a 33 percent rise in “other local taxes,” driven mainly by larger remittances of current‑ and prior‑year earned income tax and local services tax. Charges for services rose about 129 percent, which Cohen said was “due primarily to the sale of the 2,008 Sutton fire apparatus, but also as a result of early receipt of our annual health insurance rebate.” Interest and rents were up about 22 percent, he added.
Enterprise funds showed mixed results. Cohen said water‑fund personnel costs were up about 32 percent year over year to reflect budgeted new positions; capital spending in the water fund rose about 415 percent because of planned projects, including laboratory cabinetry and the PFAS monitoring pilot at the water treatment plant. He said sewer fund capital projects and pump station upgrades also increased capital outlays, and sewer billing from neighboring townships was delayed, reducing year‑to‑date charges-for‑services in that fund.
Cohen said stormwater capital costs rose after the borough purchased a leaf‑vacuum truck this year, with roughly $200,000 of the $255,000 purchase paid by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. In the parking fund, he said recent purchases of enforcement equipment and maintenance raised supply and utility costs; the borough also has not yet posted some mobile and app payments, which makes current revenue comparisons incomplete.
Council members and the public welcomed the regular update. Tina Ziegler, a resident who later spoke during public comment, said the quarterly reports help residents ask informed questions rather than waiting for a long annual budget session. “I really appreciate it when council has taken the time to discuss things that aren't necessarily on the agenda,” Ziegler said.
The presentation concluded with a summary comparing performance against budget across the borough’s major funds. No formal action was taken on the financial update; it was provided for council review.
