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Lehigh Valley sinks Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins with three-goal third period

Dallas Borough holds line on taxes

<p>PITTSTON &#8212; City council members approved the first reading of the 2017 budget at their monthly meeting Wednesday.</p><p>The budget currently stands at $6,339,229 with no tax increase and a millage of 6.85. A mill is $1 in tax for every $1,000 in assessed property value.</p><p>The motion was passed 3-1, with Councilman Danny Argo voting no and Councilman Joe McLean absent.</p><p>Argo voted against the motion due to a 3 percent salary increase for some city employees.</p><p>&#8220;These figures are not germane with the demographics of a city like Pittston,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s way out of order. I want to know where this stops because people are leaving this town as we speak. Our population has been dropping. &#8230;</p><p>&#8220;And I want to know when this stops.&#8221;</p><p>The budget will be available for public inspection for the next 30 days and will be voted on at the next public meeting in December.</p><p>The council also approved a payment of $402,634.06 for the streetscapre project, with $1,845 going to Reilly Associates for engineering services and $400,798.06 going to Multiscape Inc. for construction services.</p><p>In other business, the council:</p><p>&#8226; Approved an engineering services contract in the amount of $32,000 with Reilly Associates for the Greater Pittston Amphitheater Project. The amphitheater will be constructed on the grounds of the Pittston Memorial Library.</p><p>&#8226; Approved a revised change order for the HVAC City Hall upgrade in the amount of $15,444.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>No mill or tax increase for 2017</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jimmy Fisher</p><p>jfisher@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>WHAT&#8217;S NEXT</strong></p><p>Pittston City Council will hold its next public meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 21 at city hall, 35 Broad St.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jimmy Fisher at 570-704-3972 or on Twitter @SD_JimmyFisher</p></shirttailMeta></div>

No tax increases in Pittston budget