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Saint Marys council adopts 2025 budget, tax levy and multiple local measures in unanimous votes
Summary
The City of Saint Marys City Council approved the 2025 budget and levy, a conditional-use permit for a noncoal surface mine, fee schedule revisions and several appointments during its Dec. 16 meeting; council also set wages and approved multiple board appointments.
The City of Saint Marys City Council on Dec. 16 approved the 2025 budget and tax levy and took a series of related votes including a conditional-use approval for a surface noncoal mine at 28 Clay Road, changes to the city fee schedule, and multiple appointments to local boards and authorities.
The council adopted Ordinance No. 3-44 providing for the levy and assessment of taxes for fiscal year 2025 and passed Resolution No. 24-24 adopting the 2025 city budget. Council members said the levy and budget reflect no increase in the city's millage from the previous year. "This is the same as the tax rate as last year," a council member said during discussion.
Council also approved Resolution No. 24-25, establishing annual compensation for the tax collector and deputy tax collector for the Saint Mary's Area School District, and Resolution No. 24-26, which revises the city fee schedule. Councilors said most fees were only slightly increased to cover rising costs; the zoning hearing board fee was noted to be $300. Staff clarified that some increases reflect higher advertising and contractor costs.
Other formal actions included approval of the minutes from the Nov. 18 meeting, passage of a wage schedule for management employees (with a default 3% increase noted for most management positions), and the appointment of Matt Pfeiffer as director of the Community and Economic Development Department.
Council took multiple appointments to local authorities, boards and commissions by voice vote, including appointments to the Benzinger Township Golf Authority, Saint Mary's Area Airport Authority, Saint Mary's Area Water Authority, Saint Mary's Area Municipal Authority, Board of Health, Zoning Hearing Board, Planning Commission, Police Civil Service Commission, Shade Tree Commission and others. The council recorded each appointment with a motion and second and approved them by voice vote.
Votes were made by motion, second and voice vote. Where motions and seconders were recorded in the transcript, those names are noted in the actions array below; roll-call vote tallies by name were not recorded in the public transcript.
The meeting adjourned following council comments and holiday greetings; the next council meeting was scheduled for Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. in the Council Room at City Hall.
