A financial boost to the Borough of Gettysburg is drying up. During Tuesday’s meeting, Borough Manager Charles Gable told the council that the municipality has $716,000 remaining of the $3.1 million it received from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). The borough has been using the money to cover revenue shortfalls in its annual budgets.
“We are going to have to have some uncomfortable conversations, I think,” Gable told the council.
A draft 2025 budget Gable presented to the council has a deficit of $976,349. Gable reminded the council that the draft is far from the final product and council will need to discuss its wishes during upcoming budget workshops.
The biggest drivers of the deficit, Gable said, are a 19% increase in health insurance costs, two additional police officers that cost $124,880 each, a proposed additional public works employee at a cost of $92,929, and debt service cost of $650,000.
The borough council will discuss its budget on Oct. 21, 28, Nov. 4, and Nov. 5. All meetings will begin at 7 p.m. in the Borough Council Chambers on East High Street.
Good news
Visitors are helping to fund Gettysburg Borough’s operations in historically significant ways. In 2019, the lodging tax added $159,693 to the borough’s coffers. The COVID-19 pandemic caused that amount to plummet to $75,245 in 2020. However, the borough earned $182,298 from the lodging tax in 2023. Gable said the borough is expected to receive even more money from the lodging tax in 2024 based on year-to-date collections.
Similarly, the borough is collecting more money each year from parking revenues. In 2019, it earned $1.198 million from parking. Collections dipped to $744,805 in 2020, but 2023 closed with the borough realizing $1.468 million in parking revenue. Gable expects 2024 collections to surpass the 2023 total.
Other business
With so many big budget decisions ahead of them, the borough council was fortunate to breeze through its routine business approvals with little discussion and no contention.
The elected body unanimously voted to:
- Set a public hearing for 6:30 p.m., Oct. 28 to receive public comments on a requested transfer of a restaurant liquor license to 517 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg. The property is currently the site of a Conoco gas station and convenience store. Borough Planning Director John Whitmore said he had no information on what the applicant, Ravi Singh, plans to do with the property.
- Approve free parking during the holiday season on Monday through Thursday for the following areas: Lincoln Square and the first blocks of Carlisle, York, Baltimore, and Chambersburg streets and Steinwehr Avenue.
- Establish a metered parking space at or near 334 and 336 Baltimore Street that can be used exclusively by persons with disabilities.
Alex J. Hayes has spent almost two decades in the Adams County news business. He is passionate about sharing stories focused on the people in our communities and following local governments in an age when few journalists report on their meetings. Alex is also a freelance writer for several other publications in South Central Pennsylvania. Alex encourages readers to contact him at ahayes83@gmail.com.