Kenny Bonus

Butler Councilman Kenny Bonus said he accomplished a few things in the appointed term he is serving, but he would like to be elected to a full term to see what else he can do.

Bonus, 29, was appointed in September 2016 to replace Richard Schontz, who resigned after moving out of the city. Bonus is running for a full, four-year term on the Democratic ticket in the election on Tuesday. He is one of four candidates running for two spots.

“Being on council for one year, I’ve been able to do some things for the city, but a lot of the time was spent learning. It’s been an experience just learning what impact I can have on the city,” said Bonus, council’s director of streets and public improvements.

A self-employed accountant, Bonus said he would like to conduct an analysis of the city’s mercantile and business privilege tax collections. Butler Township analyzed its collections and discovered that thousands of dollars in taxes were not collected, he said.

“There are ways to do an analysis to see who is paying it and who isn’t. That would bring in revenue that is already owed to us,” Bonus said.

An idea he had has generated almost $5,000 in revenue for the city so far this year, Bonus said. He proposed a nonresident earned income tax on out-of-state residents working in the city that was enacted in January.

Bonus said he wants to strengthen the city’s budget by doing what he can to avoid year-end deficits, control spending and look for more revenue.

He said he wants to develop a package of information outlining grants and training for lower income home buyers and federal tax credits to give to first-time home buyers.

“It would make it more attractive for people to come into the city and own a home instead of renting,” Bonus said.

Residents who Bonus met while campaigning told him that owners take better care of their homes and are more invested in the city than renters. Bonus said he talked to a resident who won a city Neighborhood Pride Award for the improvements he made to his home. That resident told Bonus that his neighbors started fixing up their homes after he won the award.

“It’s important to recognize people who improve their homes,” Bonus said.

In addition to owning Bonus Accounting, Bonus opened a second business, ConnectWork on Main, which provides professional office space to help foster new business growth.

Bonus graduated from Butler High School in 2006 and from Clarion University in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and management.

He said he recently became engaged to be married.

He is vice president of Butler AM Rotary, United Way board treasurer, Butler County Chamber of Commerce board member, Butler County Historical Society board member, Butler Arts Center board member, chairman of Butler County Young Professionals and Penn Theater Performance Company treasurer.