At the Sept. 2 meeting, Bethlehem city council postponed an initial vote on a proposed $1 per ticket city amusement tax increase. The current amusement tax is set at $1.50 per ticket. The increase would bring the per ticket amusement tax to $2.50.

The increase was proposed as part of the city's broader attempts to reduce what Business Administrator David Brong called an "epic" budget deficit of $5.9 million. Health benefits for employees and pension plans make up a portion of the costs creating the deficit for the city.

Mayor Donchez sent a memorandum to key stakeholders Aug. 26 recommending the tax increase and requesting feedback. Due to the lack of response over the holiday weekend, Donchez sent another memorandum to council President J. William Reynolds Sept. 2 requesting the initial read vote be postponed to the Sept. 16 council meetthe Sept. 16 council meeting.

Despite the Aug. 26 memo, council members were unaware of the proposed increase until later in the week. They expressed frustration at having so little time between notification and the meeting.

"I really didn't know about anything until 4 o'clock on a Friday on a holiday weekend," said council member Bryan Callahan. "It didn't smell right."

Mayor Donchez apologized for the delay.

"I'll take responsibility for the miscommunication," he said.

With an initial vote set for the Sept. 16 council meeting, the final vote will come before council Oct. 7.

A press conference outlining the proposed amusement tax increase and the city's five-year financial plan will be held during the week of Sept. 7.

In other council business

A permit was granted for the Incarnation of Our Lord Parish's Fall festival.

Approval was granted to hire a City Housing Rehabilitation Finance Specialist and a City Housing Rehabilitation Technical Specialist.