 By law, municipalities can tax citizens only 1 percent a week in the earned income tax, but financially distressed cities can petition the courts to increase it to 2 percent a week.In December 2013, Shamokin City Council cut several full-time police officer positions in an effort to reduce budget overruns into compliance.The Shamokin City Council unanimously approved a 2015 budget of $3.7 million setting property taxes at 58.1 mills.