No Tax Increase for 2012 in the Borough of West Chester

The voted to propose a final budget for 2012 on Wednesday night that will not include a tax increase.

The tax rate for 2012 will remain at 6.96 mills, the same rate as 2011.  At that millage rate the average household in West Chester would pay $828 per year in property taxes or around $69 per month.

In total, the general fund budget for 2012 will be $18,751,134.  However, borough council must still vote to approve the final budget in December.

Many council members said they did not believe that much would change in the budget between now and December, but if there were changes, they would be small.

Several borough council members, including Sue Bayne and John Manion, expressed disappointment in the 2012 budget.

Both Bayne and Manion thought that more could have been done to decrease costs and increase revenues including, a “pay-for-throw” trash program, charging admission at borough events and instituting a storm water management fee.

Bayne also warned council about putting too much faith into next year’s round of contract negotiations.

Next year, both the police and the public works labor contracts are up, and borough council hopes to cut costs at the negotiation table.

The borough of West Chester is 100 percent built out, and 35 percent of the borough’s land is tax exempt.  With no new sources of revenue available, borough manager Ernie McNeely has said that the borough must deal with costs that are exploding at an exponential rate.

Manion has also said that he is disappointed that council could not find a way to roll back some of the 20 percent tax increase instituted last year.

Council will vote on the final budget for 2012 on December 21.

To see the complete budget proposal please click on the .pdf in the picture screen.