HARMONY — Borough leaders passed the 2023 projected budget Tuesday night. The council also responded to questions from a representative of Zelienople Area Public Library.

Library board representative Kathy Luek asked if the board would set aside budget funds to contribute toward the library — which Harmony shares with Zelienople — next year.

“It just makes me really sad Harmony borough supported the library for years and years and years, and then a couple of years ago, everything was cut off,” she said, referring to the year 2010.

“And they can’t seem to find a way to give any support to the library, which 75% of Harmony residents use,” she said. “Very simple.”

Councilman Jason Sarver showed some sympathy. He referred to a sold-out June fundraiser whose proceeds go toward funding the library.

“When we do the wine walk, it’s here, and that’s a lot more than we ever donated that is raised through that,” he said. “I think a lot of us kind of see that as our contribution ... If you want to have it somewhere else, I don’t know if it would be as successful.”

He added that several members of the council often help with that event each year Harmony has hosted it. The COVID-19 pandemic affected plans for the event in 2019 and 2020.

Luek also said that the library, which recently hired Nicole Sloka as its new director, will host a meet-and-greet event at 7 p.m. Wednesday, where light refreshments will be served.

Harmony Mayor Cathy Rape had said in October that the borough’s population, which totaled 1,104 as of the 2020 Census, had grown little up to that time, resulting in less tax revenue to pay for services than in some communities.

Harmony’s population totaled 912 in the 2010 Census year.

“It’s been 12 years in a row we haven’t raised taxes for the borough, real estate taxes for the borough,” said Greg Such, council president. “We’re continuing to hang in there and do our best.”

The council managed to balance the budget this year, he said.

He added that it proved tougher to balance the budget, owing to inflation, with costs for everything from property to casualty insurance rising.

The borough council’s finance committee, which includes council member Joe Dippold, prepared the 2023 projected budget.

Council member Frank Luek asked if the council might find further money toward the end of the budget year with which to contribute toward the library.

“That’s a good question,” Such said.

Such told the Butler Eagle that borough secretary Amy Brown will provide a copy of the recently approved 2023 projected budget to the Butler Eagle.