Cheswick holds line on taxes in 2023 proposed budget

Cheswick residents shouldn’t expect any tax increases next year if the 2023 proposed budget is passed next week.

The $2.4 million proposed budget marks about a 10% increase over this year’s $2.2 million budget, with most of the increases coming from infrastructure projects, said Lorraine Zebrine, borough secretary.

However, no property tax increases are included.

“All of it was driven by infrastructure,” she said. “A lot has to do with traffic light replacement and waterline replacement.”

The largest changes in the budget, which is published online, can be seen in the public works department’s traffic control budget. The proposed budget earmarks $282,600 for traffic control, more than quadruple the $60,850 budgeted for 2020.

Funds allocated toward water services, specifically capital water projects, also would greatly increase.

The proposed budget includes $260,000 for water projects alone. While it is only an 8.3% increase over the $240,000 budgeted for 2022, the borough in reality only spent an estimated $85,000 this year, according to the end-of-year forecast.

Cheswick Council will vote on the final budget at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the borough building, 220 S. Atlantic Ave.