Monongahela council approves half-mill tax increase
MONONGAHELA – City residents will be facing a tax increase this coming year, but the dents in their wallets will be negligible.
During its monthly meeting, council unanimously approved its 2019 budget, which includes $3,138,560 in income and $3,129,356 in expenditures. The city is expected to have a $9,204 fund balance. Taxes will be raised from 6.5 to 7 mills.
Councilman Ken Kulak said council was hesitant to raise taxes, but it didn’t have many other options.
“Due to increases across the board, we had to approve the tax hike,” he said. “No one ever wants to raise taxes, but it is our responsibility to keep our finances in order.”
Kulak said the increase should not overburden taxpayers. For example, taxpayers who own a house that is assessed at $100,000 will pay $50 extra on their real estate taxes.
Council also accepted a bid from cfsbank for a $500,000 tax-anticipation loan. The city will be paying a fixed rate of 2.95 percent on the loan.
In other business, Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone brought some good news to Monongahela when he presented the city with a $2,695.50 check. Vittone said his office is splitting money confiscated from a recent drug bust with Monongahela, pending approval from the court.
“Not many (district attorney’s) offices do that, but it’s a great way to get money back to the taxpayers,” said Vittone. “I want to thank these guys for the wonderful work they are doing. They had a pretty good-sized bust across the street. There are a lot of different things we are doing to try to fight the drug problem. We have a good partnership with our federal law enforcement authorities to try to eliminate the opioids and fentanyl that are hitting the Mon Valley.”
Police Chief Brian Tempest added Monongahela is expecting about $30,000 from other local forfeitures, along with $20,000 from a federal forfeiture.
In other business:
- Solicitor David Finder was instructed by council to check if the water company is responsible for pavement damage caused by water line breaks.
- Councilman Rusty Polinoli asked the public to refrain from feeding ducks and geese at the Noble J. Dick (Monongahela) Aquatorium to avoid attracting rats. He added the city is considering closing access to the aquatorium during the winter.
- Council hired Thomas Bonidie as a full-time rental inspector. Pending background checks, Bonidie is also expected to become the city’s building code inspector.
- The city extended its garbage contract with Big’s Sanitation for another year.
- Mayor Bob Kepics said that in the spirit of holiday giving, the city will offer free downtown parking through Jan. 2.