Bridgeville presents $8.1 million 2025 budget plan with no tax increase; council authorizes advertisement

Bridgeville borough staff presented a balanced $8.1 million spending plan for 2025 that proposes no increase in real‑estate millage and requests council authorization to advertise the budget ahead of a Dec. 9 adoption vote.

The presentation, delivered by borough staff member Joe, said general fund revenues are forecast at about $3.8 million — up roughly $149,000 from the prior year — driven primarily by higher earned‑income tax receipts and an anticipated $51,000 rise in state pension aid. "Going into 2025 we have a balanced spending plan that has no tax increase proposed," Joe told the council.

Why it matters: The proposal would maintain the borough's millage rate for an eighth consecutive year while funding several capital and public‑safety priorities. The budget includes initial construction for phase one of a flood control project, continued road paving and active‑transportation work, the replacement of a police cruiser, and continued investment in sanitary‑sewer repairs and equipment.

Key numbers and tradeoffs: The borough projects all funds combined at about $8.1 million. The general fund is budgeted at approximately $3.8 million. The sewer fund budget is roughly $2.4 million and proposes using up to $479,000 of sewer fund balance to avoid raising sewer rates next year. Joe said upcoming CCTV inspections and point repairs plus a grant‑funded infiltration project account for most sewer capital needs, and that the multi‑year sewer repair program could total about $700,000 between source‑reduction work and point repairs.

On revenues, Joe noted a modest forecast drop in real‑estate transfer taxes but said earned‑income tax increases and the shift to a unit‑based pension allocation are the primary drivers of revenue growth. "Next year sewer revenue is going to exceed real‑estate tax revenue for the first time," Joe said, calling the change illustrative of how utilities now underpin a larger share of municipal finances.

Department requests and contingencies: The budget assumes 3% wage adjustments tied to existing collective‑bargaining agreements and matches for nonunion staff. Police department requests — including a replacement cruiser, targeted security cameras and equipment upgrades — were largely included. Health insurance costs rose materially, in part because several employees moved from single to family coverage; Joe also recommended pursuing cyber‑security insurance and quarterly employee trainings to reduce IT risk.

Contracts and fees: The borough's five‑year garbage contract is in year two; contract increases (6–7%) are being passed through to ratepayers, raising the quarterly garbage fee from $72 to $77.25. For sewer customers, Joe proposed drawing on fund balance rather than increasing rates in 2025 but noted that the sewer fund would still be using a portion of its reserves to balance the budget if needed.

Next steps and council action: Joe told the council the packet includes resolutions to be placed on the December agenda — to set the tax rate, adopt the budget and enact the sewer‑fee resolution — and asked council to authorize advertisement of the budget. A council member moved to authorize advertisement; the motion was approved by voice vote. Joe said the budget materials will be posted online and that the proposed adoption is scheduled for Dec. 9.

What remains unclear: The voice vote approved authorization for advertisement, but the transcript does not record a formal roll‑call tally or the names of the motion's mover and seconder. Several line items (for example, exact bid outcomes for construction contracts) were discussed as estimates pending future bids.

The council will consider the formal adoption and fee resolution at its December meeting.