Despite the financial toll incurred by this summer’s flooding, Bridgeville Borough will not raise property taxes in 2019, according to a proposed budget [PDF] now available for public review.
Borough council met last week to review the proposal, and will vote on the final budget in December.
Except for a $3-per-quarter increase in the garbage fee, all other municipal taxes and fees remain the same as this year.
The real estate tax on buildings is still 6.5 mills. The tax on land will remain at 10 mills. The borough’s portion of the sanitary sewer rate remains at $6.23 per 1,000 gallons.
Along the same lines, Bridgeville expects tax revenues to be roughly the same next year—approximately $3.1 million.
Some spending notes from the proposed budget:
- There is money set aside for security cameras at borough parks.
- The Chartiers Park comprehensive plan will be put on hold and that money directed to flood remediation
- The borough plans to invest in flood alleviation next year. But exactly which project move forward could depend mostly on permits and approvals from other government agencies, such as the state Department of Environmental Protection.
- The police department expects to spend $10,000 on new body armor, as the officers’ current equipment nears it expiration date. The fibers in Kevlar-type bullet proof vests degrade over time, and manufacturer guarantees end after five years.
- There are still $70,000 in uncollected real estate taxes in 2018. Another $40,000 remains overdue from 2017.
- $278,000 is budgeted for public works wages. That figure is spread throughout the budget.
- $705,000 is budgeted for police salaries. That figure is more clearly denoted in the budget.
- $12,000 is budgeted for councilmembers and mayoral. That figure represents all of councilmembers and the mayor combined.
- $153,000 is budgeted for administrative salaries—that’s the borough manger, a secretary, and a clerk.
- $51,000 is budgeted for legal retainer and fees.
- $62,400 is budgeted for engineering retainer and fees.