SAXONBURG — No one wants a tax increase to appear in the borough's 2022 budget, least of all the council members.

The council at their Tuesday night meeting heard Mary Papik, borough manager, discuss the expenses proposed for next year's budget, including siding on the borough building to repair rotting wood, badly needed paving at the building, and a $43,000 increase in the police department line item.

Mayor Bill Gillespie told the council that a 2.5-mill tax increase would be needed to cover the $29,800 deficit in the preliminary budget now being considered.

One mill brings in $12,500 in Saxonburg. The last tax increase in the borough occurred in 2013.

Gillespie suggested he and the council meet in two weeks to go through the budget item by item to find ways to cut costs in the interest of avoiding a tax increase.

“Small dollars in each account add up,” he said.

The council members agreed.

Tuesday's meeting was not adjourned, but continued to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 3, at the borough building, where the council and mayor will go through the budget in detail in a search for potential cuts to next year's expenses. The meeting is open to the public.

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