Donora reopens budget, plans tax increase
DONORA – The long real estate tax freeze is about to come to an end in Donora.
A newly seated council has reopened the 2018 budget and plans to adopt a 1.5-mill tax increase to balance the spending plan.
“We haven’t raised taxes in 11 years,” borough administrator John Bedner said Wednesday.
Borough Councilman John S. Conger said costs, including sewage rates, increased across the board to the point where Donora might need to consider regionalizing services, such as police protection. Council also is considering entering into the state’s Early Intervention Program to avoid more financial problems.
“We’re in a terrible financial position,” Conger said. “The cost of business doesn’t get cheaper. They were just getting by in years’ past.”
He said the borough’s income was lowered by the Washington County tax reassessment, and further complicated by property tax appeals.
The proposed tax rate of 5.262 mills would result in a $66 increase in real estate taxes for the average property owner, he said.
The reopened $2.3 million budget earmarks $548,501 to the police department and $490,800 for insurance and employee benefits, borough records show. Street crew wages are expected to cost taxpayers $112,000. Other costs to maintain roads have been set at $457,052.
The borough expects to hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. Jan. 30 to adopt the budget.