Nov 20, 2015 1 min read

CANONSBURG – The preliminary $4.9 million budget passed by a 4-3 vote Tuesday does not seek a tax increase for borough residents.

Mayor Dave Rhome broke a 3-3 tie because Councilman Rich Russo was absent. Borough manager Bob Kipp touted the balanced budget as a practical one.

“All major services are covered – police needs, streets, public works – but not everyone got what they wanted on their wish list,” Kipp said.

“Some cuts were made to engineering, housekeeping stuff, but we have our bases covered,” said Councilman John Bevec. Additional revenues from new rentals to District Judge David Mark and the tax collector in the borough building offices, and unanticipated increases in Earned Income Tax revenues helped balance the budget from a nearly $60,000 deficit at the beginning of the year, Bevec said.

“One of the priorities for us we finally got around to – after budgeting for it last year – was hiring a new special fire and public safety inspection officer,” said Bevec. “But bottom line, any time you can pass a budget with no tax increase, it is a good one.”

A special meeting will be held Dec. 21 to ratify the final budget.