Glen Osborne officials hold line on real estate taxes for 2023

Glen Osborne property owners will not have to pay more in real estate taxes next year.

Council voted 6-0 Tuesday night to approve its 2023 budget. Councilman William Monski was absent.

The budget maintains the millage rate at 4.9 mills.

Projected revenue was listed at about $718,000 and expenses at $836,000, which is an estimated shortfall of $118,000.

Huddleston said the borough would fill that gap with capital reserve funds.

Projected income includes $385,000 in real estate taxes, $215,000 in earned income tax, $17,000 in earned interest, $9,000 in local service tax, $8,000 in cable TV franchise fees and $5,000 in building permits.

Spending includes $211,600 for administration including solicitor fees, office staff salaries, legal advertising, debt payments and insurances; $126,000 for police, $92,000 for sanitation, $43,700 for fire safety, $21,000 for roads, $10,000 for code enforcement and $6,000 for ambulance service.

The borough does plan to pave a few roads this coming year. About $88,000 was budgeted for paving.

There are no major park or recreation projects planned. Instead, there will be a focus on paperwork.

“We are modernizing and updating our zoning ordinances,” Huddleston said. “It’s been about 12 years since we’ve did that. So, we’re going to bring those current and that’s going to be a big focus of the borough.”

The goal is to have the updating done sometime in June. The updates are expected to help streamline processes for potential developers.

The borough reduced the millage rate this year from 5.2 mills to 4.9 mills.

“Part of the reason for that is really strong fiscal management, and we’ve cleaned up a couple capital projects,” council President Tom Huddleston said about holding the line on taxes while dealing with inflation.

Those capital projects included a new water drainage system and paving along Sycamore Road.

Another reason the borough was able to hold the line is by focusing on community needs, Huddleston said.

“I’m blessed to have an incredible volunteer council that does a great job,” Huddleston said. “They’re in touch with the community. We’re blessed to be in the position we’re in. We’re very capital and fiscally stable.”

“Council is unified and working well together,” Councilwoman Holly Merriman said. “We continue to have an excellent cash reserve level, (and) we are pleased to be able to keep the tax rate stable while providing exceptional service to our residents.”

Council also approved advertising an ordinance for a new fire service agreement with Cochran Hose Company. The volunteer company has provided Glen Osborne with fire protection for years.

Council plans to approve a new five-year deal in January. Terms include a 2% increase each year.

Glen Osborne budgeted $35,000 for a contracted fire service fee for next year.