No real estate tax hike in Hollidaysburg budget

Borough adopts spending plan that raises some business fees

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Borough council members approved the adoption of the 2025 budget reflecting no real estate tax increase, but businesses with licensing for amusement devices will see their fees adjusted for inflation.

The motions were made and passed during the council's Thursday evening meeting, with borough manager Ethan Imhoff saying there were two small changes to the budget since its November meeting.

"We did create a revenue line item to receive the ARPA funding in the amount of $640,812," Imhoff said. And then, moving down, we added a small line item for $250 to acquire the property that the council had authorized for down on White Street."

The resolutions to adopt the 2025 budget, set the real estate tax rate and collect Act 511 taxes were unanimous, but council member Clay Gingrich was the sole "no" vote for the resolution to establish a 2025 fee schedule.

In explaining the fee schedule, Imhoff said it was updated annually and "most of these are simply inflationary changes reflecting fees that have not been changed for quite some time."

Gingrich said he was "in agreement" with the fee schedule, the need for new wording and to label things correctly, but not the fee increase.

"I don't know if that matters, but I think these small businesses are having a tough time right now as it is with the economy," Gingrich said.

Imhoff said the licensing fee for paying devices, which are amusement devices where there's a payout offered, is currently $50, with the resolution increasing it to $150.

"I wanted to mention ... the raise in fees for the various applications, the zone hearing board, additional uses, those are primarily to reflect increased costs in advertising that the borough has to pay," Imhoff said. "So these fees basically cover staff time and advertising."

During his manager's report, Imhoff addressed a code enforcement matter involving D'Ottavio's Italian House at 306 Allegheny St.

Imhoff said there was a penalty hearing in front of Magisterial District Judge Paula Aigner for citations issued by Borough Community Development Director Andrew Holodnik.

"That business was found to be hosting exotic dancing, strippers, things like that, that are not permitted," Imhoff said. "Mr. Holodnik filed several citations against Mr. D'Ottavio, which did not get the desired response. So we did have to go to court with Mr. D'Ottavio."

"Judge Aigner did impose the maximum fine on Mr. D'Ottavio for the citations that were issued," Imhoff said.

D'Ottavio's continued with the events following the issuance of the citations, Imhoff said, so the borough requested an injunction for those activities, which was granted for 30 days.

"Now we're negotiating with Mr. D'Ottavio's attorney as to what his next steps are," Imhoff said. "We're hoping this is the end of it and those events are discontinued."

In other matters, the council approved a conditional use for Great Commission Schools following November's public hearing on its intention to build a school on the property zoned conservation/recreation. The council also approved the appointment of six Hollidaysburg residents to its blight committee, which will hold its first meeting in January 2025. The newly appointed members include council member William Kitt, county redevelopment authority member Randy Manning, Hollidaysburg planning commission member Chad Repko, borough staff member Andrew Holodnik and residents Kevin Sommers and Ellen Miller.

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor is at 814-946-7458.