Springdale approves budget with no tax hikes

Property taxes in Springdale will remain the same next year.

The $2.8 million 2023 budget, adopted unanimously by council Tuesday, marks an increase of about 17% over the $2.4 million budget approved for 2022. However, $344,000 of that is set to be used for projects made possible through American Rescue Plan Act funding, which accounts for 12% of all spending, said council President Mitch Karaica.

“No tax increase, no water or sewage increases,” Karaica said, adding council did raise its late water utility bill fee from 1.5% to 10% of the total bill amount.

The larger-ticket increases come from waterline projects, demolitions and full-time police salaries, officials have said.

Increases can be seen in the public works department, which has a budget of $525,900, a 23.3% increase. Police salaries and wages also will increase by 13.1% to $496,800.

Mayor Joe Bertoline, who was appointed unanimously during a special council meeting earlier this month following the death of former Mayor John Molnar on Nov. 19, said he was happy with holding the line on taxes.

Bertoline previously served as mayor from 2018 to 2021.

“I’m happy with (no tax increases),” he said. “I’m not happy that our police budget was kind of going a bit out of control because we were short two officers.”

A large reason for the increase in the police budget is the hiring of two new full-time police officers, Theodore Bajack and Jack Singleton, who were sworn-in Tuesday. They will start Jan. 2 pending background checks and other hiring procedures.