COLUMBIA SPY

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

New leadership, returning officials mark council's organizational meeting

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY

At the January 5, 2026 Columbia Borough Council Organizational meeting, District Justice Miles Bixler administered the oath of office to the following people:

Leo Lutz—mayor

Tom Ziegler, Jr.—councilor

Jeanne Cooper—councilor

Ethan Byers—councilor

All four prevailed in the November 2025 election.

Council subsequently elected Vice-President Eric Kauffman as council president. Heather Zink, who held the position previously, made the nomination, which was voted on unanimously.

Councilor Ethan Byers nominated Zink for vice president. Council voted unanimously to elect Zink.

Kelly Murphy was elected to the position of borough council president pro tem. Zink made the nomination, which council voted on unanimously.

Council also voted to appoint the following borough officers:

Jack Brommer—borough manager/secretary/treasurer/open records officer

Paula Diffenderfer—assistant open records officer

Elyse Crawford—zoning officer

Evan Gabel—borough solicitor

C. S. Davidson—borough engineer

Councilor Joanne Geesey did not attend the meeting.

Newly elected council president suggests raising taxes

Kauffman: I would like to consider reopening the budget and possibly raising taxes."

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY

Shortly after being seated as the newly elected Columbia Borough Council president Monday night, Eric Kauffman suggested reopening the budget and raising taxes for 2026.

“I would like to consider reopening the budget and possibly raising taxes,“ Kauffman said, noting that reserves had fallen below the recommended 15% of the general fund. However, Kauffman had already voted to adopt the current budget at the December 9, 2025 council meeting.

Council would need to raise taxes by at least two-and-a-half mills to make up the $1.1 million it took from reserves to balance the budget. Doing so would put the total municipal tax rate at 12.5 mills. The millage increase would add $250 annually for a property assessed at $100,000. Kauffman said council will look at the issue at its next meeting on January 13, 2026.

Council adopted the current budget on December 9, 2025, with no tax increase but with a considerable drawdown of reserves.

Council voted unanimously to adopt the $17.80 million budget for 2026. The approximately $300,000 remaining in reserves is considerably lower than the recommended minimum of 15% of expenditures in general fund reserves.

Council also voted to keep the millage the same—at 10 mills—although council members Kelly Murphy and Joanne Geesey voted against the measure, without explanation.

In December 2024, council raised taxes by 2 mills —from 8 to 10 mills—for 2025. Raising taxes for this year would be the second hike in a row.

Monday, January 5, 2026

Eric Kauffman elected Columbia Borough Council President at Organizational Meeting

Council President Eric Kauffman

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY

Columbia Borough Council Vice-President Eric Kauffman was elected council president at Monday night's council organizational meeting. Heather Zink, who held the position previously, made the nomination, which was voted on unanimously. Zink was elected vice president.

District Justice Miles Bixler swore in Leo Lutz for another term as mayor. Bixler also swore in Tom Ziegler, Jr, Jeanne Cooper, and Ethan Byers as councilors.