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Budget Battle in Hazleton

HAZLETON — It’s the second year of a budget battle in Hazleton. Last year, the issue was never really resolved even though the matter ended up in fr...
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HAZLETON -- It's the second year of a budget battle in Hazleton. Last year, the issue was never really resolved even though the matter ended up in front of a judge.

This year's story is similar.

The mayor has vetoed the city council's proposed budget saying that plan would put the city of Hazleton in even more debt.

Even though his version includes a tax increase, he thinks it's better for the city to pay a small increase this year. Rather than a big hike next year.

"You either pay now or pay later," said Hazleton Mayor Joe Yannuzzi.

Hazleton City Council President Jack Mundie said the people in Hazleton can't afford more taxation.

"Increasing the taxes? There's quite a few homes for sale in Hazleton and that would just exasperated the problem," said Mundie.

The mayor said one of the reasons for a tax increase in his budget is for new full-time police officers.

"We should have two police officers for every thousand population. We have 25,000 we should have 50 police officers and we don’t," said Yannuzzi.

In the mayor's proposal, property taxes would increase about $90 for the average home in the city to pay for the new cops.

The city council president thinks that's too much and part-time officers are a better option.

"We're allowing for $100,000 to be put in the police budget to increase the force with some part-time people," said Mundie.

There is one thing the city council and mayor agree on, and that's if they don't stop bickering over the budget, the taxpayers will end up splitting the bill. But it seems that even the taxpayers can't agree on which budget the city should pass.

"I think that they should be able to work out their differences, for the better of the community. That's what we need. We really need people to come together and work together," said Rachel Hildebrand of Hazleton.

Evelyn Graham of Hazleton said, "I'd like to see government go down completely. And have you take care of the taxes? Yes. I'll take care of them!"

The council and mayor will meet Tuesday at 7pm for another meeting on the budget.

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