BELLE VERNON – In a unanimous vote, Belle Vernon Borough Council voted to approve a tentative budget for 2025. The balanced budget of $658,437 holds the line on taxes at 8 mills. Residents can view the proposed tentative spending plan here and see detailed income and expenses here.
“While our revenues have fallen, we have been able to cut back on some of our expenses to be able to offer this budget without a tax increase next year,” said Joseph Minniti, Borough Council President.
In his budget address to Council, Cliff Gorski, Vice President of Council and chairman of the finance committee explained to those present that while the borough is losing population, the borough has managed to cut corners and hold the line on taxes.
“ We don’t have many areas to produce revenue for the borough,” Gorski said. “Rightly so, our largest expenses are for public safety and public works. We did have something thrown at us last year that we didn’t anticipate when we were forced to do all of the billing for trash collection,” Gorski said. “ If people don’t pay their trash bills, that impacts the general fund budget because we have to make up the difference.”
The 2025 tentative budget is online at bellevernonboro.net, it is posted at the borough building and will be advertised in the Mon Valley Independent. A vote on final adoption will be held at the next borough council meeting on December 17 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers