Dec 13, 2016 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – Waynesburg Borough Council adopted the borough’s 2017 budget Monday, a $1.6 million spending plan that will increase property taxes by 1 mill.

The budget will increase the tax levy to 10 mills. The increase will cost a taxpayer whose property is valued at $50,000 an additional $50, raising his tax bill from $450 to $500.

“Expenses are up and revenue remains stagnant,” borough manager Mike Simms said, explaining the need for a tax hike. With little new construction in the borough, property taxes each year bring in about the same revenue, he said.

At the same time, costs for materials and services, including wages and benefits, continue to rise, he said. The borough has not had a tax increase since 2008.

Council adopted the budget in a unanimous vote. Councilman Brian Tanner was absent.

The only person to express any concern about the budget was Police Chief Rob Toth, whose budget was reduced by $15,600 to $577,700.

“I don’t see how we can have less with all that’s going on now,” Toth said. He said he believed the police budget had been higher in 2014 and was concerned about a possible downward trend.

Council member Lynne Snyder said, however, the borough faces difficult financial times. “Our tax base isn’t growing, if anything it’s shrinking,” she said. “We’re all in a tight spot.”

Council member Miles Davin also indicated council was willing to work with the department. A salary included in the budget for a police lieutenant could possibly be negotiated and if more money was needed for the post, it perhaps could be found, he said.

Toth said he believes his department has done an excellent job.

Police this year issued the second highest number of traffic citations in the borough’s history; revenue from parking and traffic violations was more than double the previous year.

Criminal arrests were down, Toth said. But, he said, that was “good” and he attributed it to the department’s more aggressive efforts to deter crime with a full staff and more visibility.

When asked later about the possible impact of the budget cut, Toth said he would have to wait and see how it works out. He said, however, he will continue to have two patrolmen on duty at all times. “I’m not going to put dollar figures ahead of the officers’ safety,” he said.

The budget lists revenue and expenditures at $1,671,000.

Other general fund categories include $603,300 for miscellaneous expenses, an increase of $12,732 primarily attributed to rising hospitalization costs; $203,400 for general government, an increase of $2,891; and $195,900 for public works, an increase of $11,724.

On the revenue said, property taxes was budgeted at $616,100, a $60,140 increase attributed to the 1-mill tax increase; and Act 511 taxes, including earned income tax, was budgeted at $518,300, a decline of $15,754.

Act 13 gas impact fee money was budgeted at $100,000, a decrease of $114,802. On the plus side, police department revenue was projected to increase by $18,680 to $100,700; and $40,600 was included as new revenue for natural gas royalty payments.

In another matter, asked about efforts to have borough patrolmen carry naloxone, or Narcan, Toth said the department has completed the paperwork and is just waiting for a patrolman to volunteer to administer it.

Naloxone, which reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, is available for free through a grant but an officer has to be trained in its use and assume responsibility for it. Toth said he now doesn’t have time to be the administrator and is waiting for a patrolman to step up.

Councilman Greg Leathers suggested Toth assign that responsibility to a patrolman or to the new lieutenant.