Beaver Borough sets 2026 budget timeline as residents press for spending cuts

Beaver Borough Council reviewed the Finance Committee's timeline for the 2026 budget and heard residents press for cost reductions at the Oct. 14 meeting.

The Finance Committee, reported by Council member Amy Stettler, said the 2026 budget began with a five‑year projection presented in May and that council members have participated in discussions since then. The committee expects to authorize the 2026 budget for advertisement at the Nov. 25 work session and to move for a vote at the December council meeting. An executive session on personnel matters was scheduled but no action on personnel was taken at the meeting.

The budget discussion drew direct public comment. Ellen Kretchmar of Ward 2 asked Council President Sean Snowden to apologize for comments at a prior meeting and urged the council to cut costs, citing concerns about rising budget expenses over the years. The council did not act on the request for an apology during the public portion.

Borough Manager Dan Madgar told the council the borough is owed approximately $235,000 from liens and unpaid taxes across about 125 parcels and that unpaid water and sewer bills total roughly $21,000. Madgar said staff continue to pursue collections while also responding to Right to Know requests; he reported four additional requests since the last meeting and that the borough has provided about 1,700 pages of records so far.

Procedural votes at the meeting were routine: the council approved the Sept. 9 and Sept. 23 minutes and authorized payment of submitted invoices by voice votes. No formal budget approvals occurred at the Oct. 14 meeting; the advertised timeline sets the next public milestones at the Nov. 25 work session and the December council meeting.