Sharpsville resident Robert Johnson wasn't happy with proposed tax and water rate hikes that borough council introduced last month.

So Johnson made it a point to be on hand Wednesday to let council know just how he felt prior to council's adoption of the 2004 budget.

"I'm paying so much in property taxes it's pathetic," said Johnson, of South Tenth Street. "... I don't have a bottomless pocket and I'm almost at the bottom of my pocket."

Johnson will have to dig down in that pocket after council Wednesday approved a 3-mill tax hike, raising the property tax rate from 17.7 to 20.7 mills, or about 17 percent, as well as a 3 percent water-rate increase for the $2.78 million 2004 budget.

Council members Guy Moderelli, Tom Lally, Luann Anglin, Bob Piccirilli, President Jack Cardwell and Alex Kovach approved the increases. Gary "Gus" Grandy voted no on both resolutions.

"I didn't like the 3 percent for the water rate hike," Grandy said, explaining why he voted no. "We carried over a balance of $24,000 into 2004 and that hike could have been held off until we know what we're going to do with the water plant."

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