Bethel Park council adopts 2026 budget, approves wage changes and modest tax increase

Bethel Park Borough Council on Nov. 10 adopted its 2026 fiscal-year budget and several companion ordinances intended to fund municipal operations, infrastructure and contractual salary agreements.

The council approved the wage-and-salary ordinance for 2026, the full 2026 budget, an ordinance to collect earned-income taxes (projected revenue $16,315,000 via a 1.25% tax), and an ordinance fixing the real-estate tax rate at 3.79 mills for general municipal purposes plus 0.34 mills for the Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Company. Each of those measures passed on recorded votes of 5–1, with Council Member Consolmagno voting no on the personnel and budget items because he said he had not received requested documents dating back to 2016.

"We went through the operational budget line by line looking for areas we could save or shift funds," Council Member Kamenicki said, noting that staff work kept the overall increase to about 1% despite rising costs for utilities, insurance and asphalt road repairs. "This modest tax increase is necessary to make sure Bethel Park moves forward and continues to provide top-rate services."

During brief public discussion, Consolmagno said he would vote no on the wage-and-salary ordinance because he had requested supporting documentation and had not received it. The record shows the ordinances still carried by the required majority: each passed with five yes votes and one no vote.

Council members said higher insurance costs (general liability and health insurance), contractual salary agreements and increased garbage and infrastructure expenses drove the need for additional revenue. The council also noted its goal of maintaining core services while limiting the municipal increase.

Outcome and next steps: The ordinances took effect per municipal rules and will fund the borough's operations and capital commitments for fiscal year 2026. Officials said departmental implementation and any staffing changes will follow the adopted wage schedule and that budget documents remain available for public inspection at municipal offices and the library.

Vote details: wage-and-salary ordinance — passed 5–1; 2026 budget ordinance — passed 5–1; earned-income tax ordinance — passed 5–1; real-estate tax-rate ordinance — passed 5–1. Consolmagno registered the lone no on those roll calls.