No tax hike proposed in Bridgeville 2021 budget

Bridgeville council members are considering a balanced budget for 2021 that does not propose raising property taxes.

Council heard from Joe Kauer, the borough’s newly-hired manager, during a budget hearing on Nov. 2. The meeting did not include any voting items and came one week before the Nov. 9 meeting, where council will vote on the proposed final budget.

The $3.3 million budget represents a 3% increase from 2020’s spending plan.

Kauer said the borough experienced some losses in revenue from business privilege taxes, permit fees, fine revenue and state allocations from the Federal-aid Highway Program.

But, he said increases in earned income taxes and other small sources like permitting revenue carried the borough through to help cover increasing contractual obligations. For example, police salaries are increasing by 2.5% and pension obligations are also increasing slightly.

Other expenses for the police department – which has a total budget of nearly $983,000 – include the purchase of a $45,000 police cruiser.

Public works employees are also scheduled to receive a 2.5% wage increase. The department also has planned the purchase of a truck that will be used as a sewer maintenance vehicle and to complete daily PA One Call markings. The yet unknown cost of the truck will be split between the borough’s sewer and general funds.

If council approves the proposed final budget as is, Kauer said the borough would end 2020 with revenue greater than expenditures.

The extra money “will be used to continue building the fund balance for unforeseen emergencies and capital projects,” Kauer said.

According to the 2021 spending plan, capital projects will amount to $2.2 million and include work on Werner Avenue’s retaining wall, the widening of Chartiers Street, replacement of the borough building’s roof, installment of security cameras at Chartiers Park and other rehabilitation projects at the park.

The proposed final budget will not be available for the public to inspect until council votes Nov. 9. That meeting will take place at the borough building at 7 p.m., with the public able to join by teleconference.