Columbia Borough Council decides not to reopen 2026 budget

Kauffman: “I just wanted to give everybody the opportunity, since we have three new council members, to speak their mind since they didn't have an opportunity."

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

At Tuesday night's Columbia Borough Council meeting, council decided not to reopen its 2026 budget. 

The subject had been broached at the January 5 organizational meeting when Council President Eric Kauffman said he wanted to open the budget and possibly raise taxes. At last night's meeting, however, Kauffman said he had wanted to give new councilors a chance to weigh in, since they were not yet on council when the budget was passed in December.  “I am giving you guys the opportunity if you would like to reopen the budget and maybe look at some cost savings.” Kauffman said, addressing new councilors Ethan Byers, Jeanne Cooper, and Thomas Ziegler, Jr.

Before councilors responded, resident Sharon Lintner addressed Kauffman and pointed out the inconsistency. “Tonight you said cost saving was the reason [for opening the budget]. But at the last meeting, you said it was because you were thinking about raising taxes,” Lintner said. 

Kauffman responded that he had heard there was discussion by councilors about raising taxes to protect financial reserves. Currently, general fund reserves stand at about $300,000, much lower than the recommended 15% of the budget, and the millage is 10 mills. “I just wanted to give everybody the opportunity, since we have three new council members, to speak their mind since they didn't have an opportunity,” Kauffman said.

Ethan Byers suggested splitting the difference not just through taxes and reserves but with considerable cuts, adding that he doesn't want to raise taxes for 2026. Byers also suggested a hiring freeze “maybe for the first six months of the year.” 

Brommer: “We have enacted a hiring freeze as far as the new positions that were placed in the budget."

Acting Borough Manager Jack Brommer announced that a hiring freeze is already in effect. “We have enacted a hiring freeze as far as the new positions that were placed in the budget,” Brommer said. He also noted he is expecting at least one retirement from the police department in the near future.

Council is still looking to hire a finance manager, though, according to Kauffman. The borough’s most recent finance manager resigned in December, as Columbia Spy reported HERE. Currently, finances are being outsourced to Brown Plus, an accounting firm. 

Councilors Cooper and Ziegler said they don't support opening the budget. Byers ended the discussion with a promise to move aggressively on finances: “Our plan currently is to be pretty aggressive about making financial changes this year. So, as long as we follow through on that, which I hope we do, I hope that we can make some sizable changes before the next year and not have to make any tax increases—or keep them as low as possible if we do have to do that.”