Check out your local municipality’s budget
Budget plans for next year have been proposed by Butler County and city officials and neither proposal looks to raise taxes for 2026.
The city chalks this up to revenues from the sale of the Butler Area Sewer Authority to Pennsylvania American Water, while the county is writing in a deficit of about $6 million for next year.
In both cases, residents should be aware of how money is planned to be spent by these governments, because the spending side still affects people living within their areas.
People often pay attention to how much they will pay in taxes, especially when a new budget is proposed, but they may not follow through and look at how their tax dollars will be spent.
Doing so is an important part of government and being an informed citizen.
The city, for example, is proposing to spend $5 million on capital projects over 2026, and $3 million on stormwater projects. These details help residents know not only where their money is going, but what to look out for in the coming months when it comes to construction and road projects.
No matter where you live in Pennsylvania, municipalities have to post a proposed budget for at least 30 days before voting it into law. So around this time of year, it is always important to pay attention to your local government and what the needs and wants for your area are.
If you only focus on how much you are paying in taxes, you may not be aware what your money is being spent on. So go view your home municipality’s budget, which must be made available after elected officials propose them. You might learn something about where you live.
— ET
