Tyrone preliminary budget to raise taxes
Council approves preliminary spending plan that includes 0.5-mill increase
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TYRONE -- Borough Council members on Monday approved Tyrone's preliminary 2027 budget, which includes a proposed 0.5-mill tax increase that officials said would put the borough in a better financial state.
According to Borough Manager Kim Gurekovich, estimated expenditures for the general fund are set at about $4.2 million, and the anticipated general fund revenue under the proposed budget is about $4.5 million.
With an increase from 4.725 mills to 5.25 mills in the proposed budget, the average borough resident would see an increase of $52.50 for every $100,000 of a property's assessed value, Gurekovich said.
On Monday, the council voted to approve the budget, putting it on 10-day display for public inspection at the borough's office, 1100 Logan Ave. The final budget will be on the council's agenda for approval at the Dec. 14 meeting, Gurekovich said.
While officials don't want to raise taxes, Mayor John Harlow said they have a duty to keep the borough fiscally responsible, noting the borough is not immune to costs that continue to rise across the board.
"We don't like the idea of raising taxes because in reality, I'm raising taxes on myself, too," Harlow said. "But with us doing this, we will be able to put the borough in a better financial state as we move forward."
Gurekovich added officials are doing everything they can to control expenses, reduce costs and make the most of the financial resources available to the borough.
"Historically, the borough has maintained a relatively low level of debt service, and we would very much like to continue that practice," she said. "We believe in being responsible with taxpayer dollars and making every effort to avoid placing unnecessary financial burdens on our residents."
Department heads, along with office staff, have made considerable efforts to reduce spending, Gurekovich said, adding purchases were stopped whenever possible, and officials are looking at new creative ways to complete more work in-house rather than contracting it out.
"While these efforts will generate savings, they also require us to balance our workload and recognize that taking on additional in-house responsibilities may delay other projects and maintenance needs," Gurekovich said. "It is a balancing act, but one we are committed to managing responsibly."
If the borough doesn't continue to adjust and monitor for future cash flow projections, Gurekovich said officials will likely exhaust all unrestricted funds by 2030.
Council resignation
Among the other items voted on during Monday's borough council meeting was the resignation of councilwoman Bridgette Gill, who tendered her resignation last Friday after she moved out of the borough, Harlow said.
In an Oct. 28 Facebook post, Gill, who is the director of the Purrfect Paws and Pals nonprofit organization, announced she and her business were moving outside of the borough with a bittersweet heart.
"This was not an easy decision," Gill wrote, noting they searched for a property within Tyrone that would meet personal and the organization's needs. They ultimately chose to purchase a property in Logan Township, she said.
"Leaving Tyrone is heartbreaking," Gill wrote. "This is a community we have dedicated so many years to serving through our animal welfare efforts, (trap and release), spay and neuter initiatives and helping cats in need."
Although they are relocating, Purrfect Paws and Pals will continue its mission, and its monthly low-cost spay and neuter clinics will continue to be available to Tyrone residents and anyone else who wishes to have their pets spayed or neutered, Gill said.
"Tyrone will always hold a special place in my heart," Gill said in the post. "We may be moving our home and organization, but there will always be a piece of us left behind by the impact we have made."
According to the borough's home rule charter, council has 10 days following Monday's meeting to advertise the vacant position. The council then has 60 days after publishing its notice to fill the vacancy by interviewing candidates and appointing a new council member at a public meeting. In the event of a hopeless deadlock, the matter would be presented to the Blair County Court of Common Pleas within 30 days of that meeting, and the court would appoint a qualified resident to serve the remainder of the term.
Since Gill's term began this year, the appointed council member would serve through the first Monday of January 2030.
The appointed person would then stand for re-election at the next general municipal election. If an incumbent loses re-election in the last general election, he or she is not eligible for appointment to a vacant council position for four years, according to the borough's charter.
Harlow said he is hoping there will be enough interest in the position for council members to interview candidates and appoint someone at the council's December meeting.
Free metered parking
In other business, the council approved free two-hour parking for the holiday season, which begins Saturday and runs through Jan. 4, 2027.
Gurekovich said the borough has traditionally offered free parking in December for more than 25 years. She noted the municipal lot is not included in the free parking because people do not move their vehicles for officials to plow if they get a large snowstorm, which has caused issues in the past.
The borough's municipal lot is at the corner of Logan Avenue and West 11th Street in the borough, between the borough's municipal building and Gardner's Ice Cream. It will continue to be enforced, Gurekovich said.
While parking meters take a break for the holiday season, Gurekovich said the Tyrone Park and Recreations committee is holding its annual parking meter contest again this year.
Decorating will begin Saturday and must be completed by Nov. 29. Anyone interested in participating has to register by calling the borough at 814-684-1330 to be assigned a specific meter.
Borough officials take pictures of the meters and post them on the borough's Facebook page for judging, which takes place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 this year,
Gurekovich said. Winners will be announced and receive gift card prizes during the borough's tree lighting festivities Friday, Dec. 4.
Comprehensive plan
When John McGill of Local Growth Labs gave his presentation about the borough's comprehensive plan Monday, he reported that over 600 people responded to the borough's survey, which represents about 12% of Tyrone's population, according to Harlow.
"We're ecstatic about that," Harlow said, adding officials held three public meetings and met with all of the Tyrone Area High School's civic classes and club leaders, including the honor society's student council.
Those meetings have started driving toward the beginning of the borough's next comprehensive plan, Harlow said, adding officials are now in the process of holding steering committee meetings to develop and move the plan forward.
"We are on track with our comprehensive plan," Harlow said.
Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.