Borough Council to Propose a Budget

The West Chester Borough Council will propose a budget for 2013 at a special meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13 starting at 7:30 p.m.

The borough must propose a budget before Nov. 16, so that it can be advertised and voted on in December.

At an October meeting of the borough's finance committee, John Manion announced that West Chester faced a $341,000 deficit after a contract for police services with Thornbury Township fell through.

Both Manion and council member Jordan Norley said they would not be in favor of a tax increase at October's meeting.

“I’m not in favor in increasing the tax rate in any way,” Norley said in October.  “If we keep upping taxes then we won’t provide an incentive for people to move or work in the borough.”

Among the other suggestions made by the finance committee in October were creating a storm water fee, charging a trash pickup fee and reducing funding to the Business Improvement District.

Currently, the Business Improvement District receives $85,000 from the borough to help foster growth and business in downtown West Chester.  Norley suggested reducing that number to $15,000.