Council passes tax hike, mayor vows not to sign

Columbia Borough Council voted 4-2 on Tuesday night to approve a 25% tax increase, raising the millage rate to 10 mills under Ordinance 954. Councilman Eric Kauffman introduced the motion, which Councilman Kelly Murphy seconded. In a roll call vote, Councilors Peter Stahl and Joanne Geesey cast the two dissenting votes. Councilwoman Barbara Fisher was absent. 

Mayor Leo Lutz stated he would not sign the ordinance.

According to PA State law:

"If the mayor does not approve the ordinance, the mayor shall return it with objections, which shall be entered upon the minutes, to the council at its next scheduled meeting occurring at least ten days after the meeting at which the ordinance was enacted by council.

(iii) Council shall reconsider the ordinance either at the meeting at which the vetoed ordinance was returned or not later than ten days after the meeting at any other scheduled meeting. If, after reconsideration, a majority of all elected council members plus one votes to override the mayor's veto, the ordinance shall have full force and effect as if it had received the approval of the mayor. The vote shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names and votes of the members shall be entered upon the minutes.

(iv) A scheduled meeting, as used in this section, may be either a regular, special or reconvened meeting.

(3) If an ordinance is not returned by the mayor at council's next scheduled meeting occurring at least ten days after its presentation to the mayor, the ordinance shall have full force and effect as if it had been approved by the mayor."

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Council also voted 4-2 on Resolution 2024-38 to adopt the budget for 2025. Once again, Stahl and Geesey were the two "no" votes.