Freemansburg council adopts 2026 budget, traffic controls and new taxes; authorizes $1M interim loan

The Borough of Freemansburg Council on Nov. 5 adopted the final 2026 budget, approved multiple traffic-control measures, authorized temporary borrowing to cover imminent construction costs and named outside vendors for building code and tax services.

Council approved the final budget for 2026 by a 6-0 vote. In subsequent actions the council authorized advertisement of an ordinance proposing to raise the borough's real-estate tax rate from 18.26 mills to 19.75 mills and adopted an ordinance establishing a $5 per-capita tax on borough residents.

Traffic measures approved included Ordinance #2025-003, which places stop signs for northbound and southbound traffic on Main Street at Monroe Street, and Ordinance #2025-004, establishing stop signs at Main Street and Washington Street; both passed 6-0. Council also adopted Ordinance #2025-005 to install six speed humps on Main Street between Washington and Market streets based on a Carroll Engineering study; that measure passed 5-1, with Council Member Rudolph Gallich recorded as voting no. Council President Homer Lorrah said the humps will not be installed until next year, they will be spaced about 300 feet apart and will be monitored and adjusted if needed.

On finance, the council authorized the borough’s financial director to obtain a loan or line of credit not to exceed $1,000,000 to cover construction costs for the Community Center Project until grant reimbursements arrive; the motion passed 5-1, with Monica Elliott recorded as voting no. The minutes state the borrowing is temporary and reimbursement will come from grant awards already secured for the project.

Council also adopted a series of administrative resolutions to retain outside providers: Resolution #2025-026 appoints Keller Zoning and Inspection Services to provide building-code and inspection services; Resolutions #2025-027, #2025-028 and #2025-029 authorize Berkheimer to serve as tax hearing officer, to appoint a liaison between the borough and Berkheimer, and to execute an agreement retaining Berkheimer as the exclusive tax officer for collection and enforcement under the Pennsylvania Local Tax Enabling Act (Act 511). All four resolutions passed 6-0.

Additional approvals included authorization for the council president to execute PennDOT forms to install rectangular rapid flashing beacons at crosswalks on Main Street at Washington and Monroe streets (6-0), adoption of a Public Works on-call policy (approved 5-0 with Monica Elliott recorded as abstaining), the formation of a three-member sanitation committee to develop specifications for the 2027 sanitation contract (6-0), and authorization to submit a $2,000,000 RACP capital itemization request for municipal park revitalization projects (6-0). The minutes note that the RACP itemization places a line in the state budget but is not itself a grant application.

The council approved appointment of Noemi Williams to the Parks & Recreation team and set community-event dates including a Santa Run on Dec. 13. The open meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m.; an executive session on litigation, property acquisition and personnel matters followed (start and end times not specified).

Votes at a glance

- Final 2026 budget: adopted, 6-0. - Ordinance #2025-003 (stop signs at Monroe St.): adopted, 6-0. - Ordinance #2025-004 (stop signs at Washington St.): adopted, 6-0. - Ordinance #2025-005 (six speed humps on Main St.): adopted, 5-1 (R. Gallich — no). - Ordinance #2025-006 (advertise real-estate tax increase to 19.75 mills): authorized to advertise, 6-0. - Ordinance #2025-007 (per-capita tax $5.00): adopted, 6-0. - Resolutions #2025-026–029 (Keller; Berkheimer appointments/agreements): adopted, 6-0 each. - Loan/line of credit up to $1,000,000: authorized, 5-1 (M. Elliott — no). - PennDOT forms for rapid flashing beacons: authorized, 6-0. - Public Works on-call policy: authorized, 5-0 (M. Elliott — abstain). - Sanitation committee (3 members): formed, 6-0. - RACP capital itemization request ($2,000,000): authorized, 6-0.

The council's actions set several near-term implementation steps: traffic-control signs and beacons will require installation and contracting; the speed-hump ordinance calls for monitoring after installation; the advertised tax-rate increase still requires final adoption after advertisement; the loan/line of credit is temporary and tied to expected grant reimbursements for the Community Center Project.