Preliminary Baldwin Boro Budget Shows $1M+ Shortfall

The Council reviewed the first draft of Baldwin's 2013 general fund budget at its meeting on Tuesday night, and things don't look rosy.

"Our revenues just aren't growing at the same pace as our expenditures," borough Manager John Barrett said as he explained how his administration's first draft results in a $1,059,742 shortfall.

Barrett said that the borough's two biggest expenditures, as they are almost every year, are health care and employee pension costs, while the borough's biggest revenue-producer, as it is every year, is real estate taxes.

Barrett said that borough officials can take some steps to address the budget shortfall, such as switching health care providers, assuming less fund balance at year's end, adjusting tax bill mailing dates and transferring control of the Lafferty Center to the .

Among other expenses in the 2013 budget that could be challenged by members of the Baldwin Council are a $750,000 road paving program and $40,000 in costs related to the possible demolition of five unsafe structures in the borough.

The council will hold a special budget meeting (public) on Monday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. at the .

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