Over the past four years, Coplay Borough has paid $78,265.63 in interest on loans.

This information comes from documents obtained Dec. 13 through a right-to-know request. The Press filed the request after borough Secretary-Treasurer Sandra Gyecsek deferred all questions on the 2013 budget to Councilman Joseph Groller, who did not return phone calls.

The amount paid in interest since 2009 would have been enough to offset the $31 average tax increase that comes with the 2013 budget, approved by council Dec. 17.

If each homeowner paid an average of $35 in real estate taxes per year, it would generate approximately $74,000, said library board President Natalie Reichl, who went before council to ask for more library funding. (See related story on page 1).

"For the last five years, there has been overspending in the Coplay budget that, over time, catches up, creating a shortfall," said Councilman Bill Leiner Jr. following Monday's special meeting in which council approved its proposed 2013 spending plan. Leiner cast the sole dissenting vote with two councilmen – Michael Mazur and Matthew Recker – absent. Groller and Councilmen Lou Bodish, David Royer and Charles Sodl voted to approve the budget.

"Instead of operating frugally during the great recession ... the previous council chose to overspend and borrow to avoid a tax hike," said Leiner.

Leiner said this has been occurring for the past five years and continues through 2013.

However, records provided by the borough show borrowing from 2009 through 2011 only.

Between Feb. 20, 2009, and Oct. 5, 2011, Coplay borrowed a total of $747,750, according to documents obtained by The Press.

The 2013 budget earmarks a total of 0.130 mills – or 3.5 percent of the total $1.89 million budget – for making payments on the loan.

Borough documents refer to the loan as the "capital projects account." The term "capital projects" usually refers to long-term projects requiring large investments.

Coplay's "capital projects" account expenditures range from $3,200 for a "fireproof cabinet" to $101,301.15 for "alley repaving" and $104,189.22 for "fire department electrical upgrades."

"Repayment schedule for this loan is two times per year in April and October. April payment is an interest-only payment and October payment is a principal-plus-interest payment (except for the first two years when it was just an interest payment)," reads a document the borough prepared to answer The Press' right-to-know request.

According to the document, the borough paid $6,620.53 in interest in 2009, $21,054.89 in interest in 2010, $29,584.53 in interest in 2011 and $21,005.68 in interest in 2012 for a total of $78,265.63 in interest paid since April 2009.

The borough paid $16,000 in principal in April 2010 with proceeds from a grant, according to the borough document.

Another $18,775 in principal was paid in October 2010 for a total principal payment of $34,775 in 2010.

In October 2011, the borough made a payment on principal of $36,571 and, in October 2012, paid $48,300 in principal, according to the document.

Total principal payments equal $119,646, leaving a balance of $628,104 remaining to be paid.

In its right-to-know request filed Dec. 5, The Press also asked for records pertaining to the "shade tree commission" line item in the 2012 and 2013 budgets.

Leiner told The Press the shade tree commission disbanded and no longer exists.

Mayor Joseph Bundra said it does still exist and takes care of sidewalk issues caused by aging trees.

The borough produced a receipt dated July 6, 2012, which shows the borough paid C.A. Luckenbach Fabricators in Coplay $2,982 for the repair of sidewalks at 41 S. Eighth St. and 132 S. Eighth St. and work on curbs and sidewalks at 28 S. Third St.

"The purpose of the shade tree commission line item is to remove trees determined to be hazardous either by being a diseased tree or due to raised sidewalks and/or curb deterioration issues," says an attachment to the receipt provided by Gyecsek. "These funds are used to remove trees and replace sidewalks. No specific trees have been targeted for removal in 2013 at this time."

Coplay Borough has borrowed the following amounts since Jan. 1, 2009:

$100,000 Feb. 20, 2009

$200,000 June 9, 2009

$30,000 Aug. 12, 2009

$35,000 Nov. 25, 2009

$25,000 Nov. 25, 2009

$390,000 total borrowed in 2009

$25,000 Jan. 11, 2010

$40,000 March 15, 2010

$88,750 April 1, 2010

$20,000 Nov. 10, 2010

$173,000 total borrowed in 2010

$179,000 Jan. 5, 2011

$5,000 Oct. 5, 2011

$184,000 total borrowed in 2011:

Overall total: $747,750

Source: documents obtained through right-to-know request

Coplay Borough paid for the following items out of the "capital projects" account:

Comprehensive plan ($33,174)

Zoning ordinance ($17,829)

Fireproof cabinet ($3,200)

Fire truck ($85,556)

Settlement for the fire department building ($37,457.16)

Engineering services ($55,193.82)

Electrical upgrades for the fire department ($104,189.22)

Mechanical upgrades for the fire department ($59,100)

Plumbing upgrades for the fire department ($21,153.16)

Police vehicle ($30,500.82)

Sandblasting the municipal pool ($13,720)

Street lighting ($160,182)

Storm sewer improvements ($21,467.38)

Alley repaving ($101,301.15).

Source: List of transactions for the Coplay Capital Projects Account, supplied by the borough