Dec 5, 2012 2 min read

BURGETTSTOWN – Burgettstown Borough Council approved a preliminary budget Monday that keeps taxes at the same rate.

With both expenditures and income at $480,150, the council proposed a balanced budget. Expenditures include $25,000 allocated toward road repairs and maintenance and $16,000 for repairs to the municipal building.

An additional $17,800 was set aside for repairs to the Plum Run Bridge, also known as the Little Shady Avenue Bridge. Council members voted to move ahead with the project on Monday.

The borough’s largest source of revenue will come from real estate tax. At 30 mills, the same rate as last year, it is expected to generate $180,000 in 2013. The earned income tax is estimated to bring in $81,000, a $6,000 increase from the 2012 figure. Burgettstown also will receive $17,000 from the state in Act 13 impact fees allocated from gas revenues obtained in the Marcellus Shale formation.

Council members will vote to finalize the budget during their next meeting in January.

Borough officials also reminded residents that a recycling bin at the municipal building is available for those wanting to get rid of old televisions, microwaves, cellphones and other electronic items. A new state law will make it illegal to throw such items in the trash.

The box trailer is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Items with freon must be drained before recycling.