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Beaver Borough Council votes 6–2 to advertise draft 2025 budget with 2-mill tax increase
Summary
Beaver Borough Council authorized advertisement of the draft 2025 General Fund budget at a 2-mill tax increase, voting 6–2 to send the budget for adoption consideration on Dec. 10. Residents raised questions about transparency, police contracts and local taxation during public comment.
Beaver Borough Council on Nov. 26 voted 6–2 to authorize the solicitor to advertise the draft 2025 General Fund budget, which includes a proposed 2-mill property tax increase. Council authorized the advertisement so the borough can consider final adoption at its Dec. 10 meeting.
The motion to advertise, made by Council Member Amy Stettler and seconded by Council Member Todd Hindman, passed on a roll-call vote: Alexander Andres voted no; Robert Bickerton, Roberta Good, Todd Hindman, Whitney Learn-Conjeski, Sean Snowden and Amy Stettler voted yes; Margaret McKean voted no. The minutes record the outcome as 6–2 in favor.
The Finance Committee, reported by Ms. Stettler earlier in the meeting, reviewed "proposal #4" of the draft 2025 budget and recommended the 2-mill increase to balance the general fund. Mr. Andres had submitted suggestions to reduce spending; those suggestions were included in the council packet but did not prevent the committee's recommendation.
During public comment, residents asked for clearer budget messaging and earlier public access to the draft. Ellen Kretchmar provided a copy of a New Brighton budget message and urged Beaver Borough to produce and post a similar explanatory budget message on social media. Council President Sean Snowden said council agendas are posted on the borough website and that once approved the draft budget will be advertised and available for public review.
The minutes do not list line-item amounts for the draft budget beyond the recommended 2-mill increase, nor do they specify the projected revenue amount the increase would generate. The council's vote was limited to authorizing advertisement of the draft budget; final adoption remains scheduled for the Dec. 10 council meeting.
Action: The solicitor was authorized to advertise the draft 2025 general fund budget with a 2-mill increase for adoption consideration on Dec. 10. A separate motion to adjourn passed by voice vote; the meeting ended at 8:37 p.m.
