No New Taxes in West Chester

The West Chester Borough Council voted to propose a budget on Monday for 2013 that is balanced and does not include a tax increase.

“We were able to do this because of shared sacrifices among the borough’s departments,” said borough council member John Manion. 

Manion went on to say that concessions by the borough’s union and non-union employees allowed West Chester to close a $341,000 budget deficit without raising taxes.

As part of the vote Monday, borough council also reduced funding for the Business Improvement District (BID) from $85,000 per year to $40,000.

The move also allowed the West Chester Police Department to retain an officer that had been marked for layoff. 

“The balanced budget was originally contingent on laying off an officer,” Manion said.  “This way that officer can stay.”

Besides cutting the BID’s funding, the borough’s budget also provides funds to repave South Adams and Poplar Streets.

With this budget, the borough will also purchase two new police vehicles, purchase a front-end loader for the public works department and provide $95,000 for Linden Street sewer upgrades.

The budget proposal passed unanimously. 

Borough Council will take a final vote on the 2013 budget in December.  After that it will become official.