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Chester council adopts 2025 budget, tax and fee ordinances; approves several resolutions
Summary
City Council on Dec. 18 adopted a balanced 2025 budget and a slate of tax and fee ordinances, while ratifying bank signatories and authorizing use of a county PCCD grant for park lighting.
The Chester City Council on Dec. 18 adopted the city's 2025 budget and approved a series of related ordinances and resolutions, voting unanimously on the measures after brief remarks and staff clarifications.
The budget ordinance — listed as Bill No. 11 / Ordinance No. 10 of 2024 — sets the 2025 general fund at $62,749,420 and lists total general fund expense before unpaid pensions at the same figure. The council recorded the city's prior-year unpaid pensions at $43,200,000, producing a total general fund expense of $105,942,420 when that liability is included. Mayor Ruth said the budget closes a looming shortfall and that the city had "$7,000,000 less" in the coming-year spending plan compared with prior projections. She added the budget was adopted "without having to lay off a single person." Chief Financial Officer Richard Trautman told the council the parking revenue increases shown in the budget are a placeholder tied to an upcoming parking contract and include parking tax revenues from large event sites.
Why it matters: Council members and staff framed the package as a fiscally responsible plan to maintain city services while making targeted capital investments in paving, blight removal and public works facilities. The measures also set tax rates and fees that govern 2025 revenue collections and the administration's operations.
Key actions: The council voted on multiple ordinances that were read for a second time and then adopted. The mayor and three council members voted "yes" on each item (recorded roll-call: Gibson, Green, Davis, Mayor Ruth). Major items adopted include: - Ordinance No. 10 (2025 appropriations/general fund budget) ' approved unanimously. - Ordinance No. 11 (employee duties/compensation schedule for 2025) ' approved unanimously. - Ordinance No. 12 (business privilege tax reenactment; rate changes for retail and wholesale) ' approved unanimously. - Ordinance No. 13 (earned income tax reenactment and rates for residents/nonresidents) ' approved unanimously. - Ordinance No. 14 (local services tax at $52 per year) ' approved unanimously. - Ordinance No. 15 (real property tax millage: 9.4041 mills; library tax 0.4017 mills) ' approved unanimously. - Ordinance No. 16 (refuse collection fee increase to $350) ' approved unanimously. - Ordinance No. 17 (amendments to the 2024 budget for compensation adjustments) ' approved unanimously.
Councilors thanked department heads, the CFO and the receivers team for work on the budget. One council member said they had opposed the budget at first because of missing information but, after meetings with the CFO and staff and line-item review, said they were now comfortable voting in favor.
Votes at a glance (formal outcomes) - Bill 11 / Ordinance 10 (2025 appropriations/general fund budget): outcome approved; roll-call: Gibson yes, Green yes, Davis yes, Mayor Ruth yes. - Bill 12 / Ordinance 11 (employees/duties/compensation): approved; roll-call: Gibson yes, Green yes, Davis yes, Mayor Ruth yes. - Bill 13 / Ordinance 12 (business privilege tax rates): approved; roll-call: Gibson yes, Green yes, Davis yes, Mayor Ruth yes. - Bill 14 / Ordinance 13 (earned income tax rates and allocation): approved; roll-call: Gibson yes, Green yes, Davis yes, Mayor Ruth yes. - Bill 15 / Ordinance 14 (local services tax $52): approved; roll-call: Gibson yes, Green yes, Davis yes, Mayor Ruth yes. - Bill 16 / Ordinance 15 (real property millage and library tax): approved; roll-call: Gibson yes, Green yes, Davis yes, Mayor Ruth yes. - Bill 17 / Ordinance 16 (refuse fee increase): approved; roll-call: Gibson yes, Green yes, Davis yes, Mayor Ruth yes. - Bill 19 / Ordinance 17 (2024 budget amendments): approved; roll-call: Gibson yes, Green yes, Davis yes, Mayor Ruth yes. - Resolution amending authorized bank signers for Santander Bank (resolution amending Resolution No. 133 of 2024): approved; roll-call: Gibson yes, Green yes, Davis yes, Mayor Ruth yes. - Resolution ratifying an MOU with Delaware County to use PCCD VIP grant funds for lighting at Four Seasons Park: approved; roll-call: Gibson yes, Green yes, Davis yes, Mayor Ruth yes.
What the budget does: Mayor Ruth highlighted nearly $1 million for paving, more than $500,000 for blight removal, a quarter-million for bridge work, and a multi-million-dollar investment in a new public works facility (construction target discussed for 2026). The budget also allocates funds for vehicle and equipment replacement and anticipates hiring additional police officers in 2025.
What remains to watch: Council members flagged the need for ongoing transparency on specific line items (for example, parking revenue tied to contracts and event taxes) and said staff would publish additional budget exhibits. Mayor Ruth noted city staff will continue work on advertising and other administrative tasks and said a December 26 meeting that had been on the calendar may be canceled if additional urgent items do not arise.
Ending: The council completed its 2025 budget work in the Dec. 18 session and closed the formal reading and voting items for the night. The mayor and staff said they would post budget exhibits and supporting documents for public review.
