Chester reviews proposed 2025 budget; council schedules first readings of tax, fee ordinances

City of Chester officials reviewed the proposed 2025 budget during a Nov. 25, 2024 deliberative meeting and the solicitor announced first readings of several ordinances that would set taxes, fees and the master fee schedule for the 2025 calendar year.

The solicitor listed first readings for Bill 11 (2025 budget appropriation), Bill 12 (2025 salary ordinance), Bill 13 (2025 business privilege tax), Bill 14 (2025 earned income tax), Bill 15 (2025 local services tax), Bill 16 (2025 real estate tax levy), Bill 17 (refuse collection fee), Bill 18 (Master Fee Schedule) and Bill 19 (2024 budget second amendment). The meeting record shows those items were placed on the agenda for first reading; no council vote on final adoption was recorded at the meeting.

Why it matters: Finance staff told council the city will have $6.9 million less revenue to work with in 2025 compared with 2024 and that unpaid prior-year pension minimum municipal obligations (MMOs) total $43.2 million. The chief financial officer outlined capital needs and said most capital spending would be funded by grants or outside sources rather than the city’s…