Slippery Rock’s Longo remains focused on economic development
Slippery Rock Mayor Jondavid Longo plans to focus his efforts during his third term in office on the same priorities he had when he first took office in 2018: economic growth.
“Economic growth equates to true freedom,” Longo said. “When we’re able to prosper, we can achieve what we desire.”
That growth includes paying off a loan the borough took out before he was elected to buy a commercially zoned property on Main Street in what he called a costly mistake. The purchase removed the property from the tax rolls and created a debt, he said.
The borough had a $1 million debt, which is nearly equal to its $1.1 million budget, from the loan when he took office. Longo said he and borough council have managed to reduce the debt to $175,000. Annual debt service payments are $50,000 to $60,000, he added.
“One of the chief priorities of my plan for the next four years in office is paying off 100% of the debt,” Longo said. “I anticipate next year that number becoming zero. It’s a testament to us and a benefit to taxpayers.”
He said directing money to pay off the debt left less money to pay for services for residents.
The borough is trying to sell the lot, and Longo said its location at the intersection of two state roads will hopefully attract a bustling business that will generate tax revenue for the borough, appeal to consumers and create jobs.
“Paying off public debt and increasing commercial development to increase jobs and revenue have been at the forefront of my priorities as mayor of Slippery Rock since I first ran for office in 2017,” Longo said. “We’re making progress.”
Longo said he is proud that he and council put together the 2026 budget without a real estate tax increase and that taxes haven’t increased during the eight years he has been in office.
His plans for 2026 include negotiating a new garbage collection contract, sprucing up downtown by repairing and replacing lampposts, and reducing what he said are overly burdensome zoning and code regulations that he said impede the growth of private and commercial property owners.
That would be in addition to a 25% reduction in fees paid by new and existing businesses, which he said he and council have already completed.
The process for transferring liquor licenses has been streamlined, and regulations that put restrictions on business signage have been loosened to benefit entrepreneurs and commercial entities, Longo added.
He said he and council hired a borough resident as the full-time code enforcement officer six years ago to replace a third-party code and zoning service. The officer costs the borough less than the third-party service did and has a stake in the community, Longo said.
In addition, he said the borough has purchased road equipment, allowing employees to do some of the work that it used to hire contractors to do.
Longo, a military veteran, also said he is proud to have initiated an Independence Day event in the borough during his first term and is looking forward to incorporating the America250 celebration into the 2026 event.
“I’m excited about this year’s celebration. It will be the biggest yet,” Longo said. “It’s an opportunity to showcase our community and all the things that make us special.”
