Glen Osborne officials were able to give property owners a bit of a real estate tax break this year.

Council recently adopted its 2022 budget, maintaining all services and lowering the millage rate from 5.2 mills to 4.9 mills, a cut of 5.8%.

The decrease will save taxpayers about $30 for every $100,000 in assessed property value, said Holly Merriman, councilwoman and finance chair.

For a house assessed at $350,000, the tax savings would be about $105.

“The borough is on firm footing financially, and we continually look for efficiencies,” Merriman said. “In addition to having a balanced budget, we are in the position to be able to handle unexpected expenses as they arise. Council is always looking for ways to improve the safety and livability of the borough.”

Projected revenues and expenses were balanced at $662,272.

Income included $359,000 in real estate taxes, $185,000 in earned income taxes, $49,500 in real estate transfer taxes, $13,000 in Regional Asset District tax distribution, $5,000 in building permits and $3,500 in Quaker Valley School District crossing guard reimbursement.

Spending included about $248,000 for public works, including $90,000 for road maintenance, $81,400 for sanitation and $31,500 for snow removal, $185,000 for administration, $127,000 for police, $41,400 for fire protection, $12,600 for borough beautification and $8,000 for code enforcement.

Among the reasons the borough was able to reduce taxes was that there are no major capital projects planned, council president Tom Huddleston said.

“We’re fortunate to get a number of capital projects done, and we’re blessed,” Huddleston said. “We run a pretty good borough, so, we rewarded the citizens here. We do a really good job managing the limited funds that we have.”

The borough had spent close to $500,000 to redesign and install a new stormwater management system and repave Sycamore Road. That project was completed in October.

Huddleston said the borough had to save for several years to get that major repair project done.

He also noted covid had minimal impact on borough finances and people paid their taxes on time last year.

Residents should expect to see some community upgrades as the months move on.

Officials are looking to upgrade crosswalks throughout the town, as well as repaint faded road lines and add signage.

There will be some more plantings around the borough and other beautification efforts.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the council, the mayor and the borough to allow this to happen,” Huddleston said. “It’s a very well-run machine and we all get along. It’s always with the borough’s best interest is how we manage Glen Osborne.”

Along with the budget, council recently approved a new five-year garbage collection contract with Waste Management.

The deal is through the Quaker Valley Council of Governments. There is no change to trash collection dates.

Hazardous waste collection, such as paints, is an added service as part of the agreement. Residents can make an appointment for a pickup of the hard to dispose of items.

Glen Osborne garbage fees are built in to the taxes.

A letter was sent out to residents from the council president this month announcing the budget and tax news.

In it, Huddleston encouraged residents to come to council meetings.

They are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month at Osborne Elementary School.

“This is our community, so let’s join together to make it the best it can be,” the letter read.

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