A nearly 24% property tax increase is included in West View’s proposed budget for 2026.
In his budget report, borough Manager Bruce Fromlak says the 1.5 mill increase “is recommended to preserve fiscal stability and provide the resources necessary to maintain operations, meet contractual obligations and invest in future capital improvements.”
If approved by council, the borough’s property tax rate would increase from 6.3 mills to 7.8 mills. For a property at West View’s median value of $98,200, the annual borough property tax bill would increase by about $147, from about $619 to $766.
West View’s total taxable property value is about $316.4 million. The proposed 1.5 mill increase is projected to generate about $474,000 in additional revenue for the borough.
It would be the first property tax increase in West View since 2021. The borough has raised its tax rate only three times over the past 20 years, the previous times in 2006 and 2011, and there was a mandated rollback in 2013 following the Allegheny County reassessment.
“A 1.5-mill adjustment in 2026 ensures that borough revenues keep pace with inflation and planned infrastructure improvements, allowing services to continue without disruption or deficit,” Fromlak’s report says, adding that it will prevent larger increases in the future.
The proposed 2026 budget totals about $10.5 million. That includes proceeds from a $5 million bond issue for the borough’s new municipal building.
West View’s new municipal building and fire department garage consists of a repurposing of the existing West View Firemen’s Banquet Hall and an adjacent area that was home to Scholl’s Bicycle Center. The borough bought the Scholl’s property this summer for $535,000, according to Allegheny County real estate records.
The borough is also buying and will demolish the former Grotto Bar at 403 Perry Highway for the project, Fromlak said.
The new complex, housing the borough’s administration, police and the fire department, is expected to serve the borough for decades, Fromlak said in his report. Council will decide if former fire stations on Ridgewood and Amherst avenues will be sold by auction or sealed bids.
Excluding the bond proceeds, the borough’s spending is increasing 3.6%, from about $5.3 million in 2025 to $5.5 million in 2026.
Increases in spending are largely due to wage adjustments, benefit costs and general inflation, Fromlak said. The $5 million bond has annual payments of about $300,000.
Other budget highlights include:
• Perry Highway streetscape project: A $300,000 local match toward corridor safety, pedestrian access and business district revitalization. Another $500,000 grant is supporting the project.
• Paving project: $275,000 budgeted for roadway resurfacing and rehabilitation.
• Public works equipment upgrades: $35,000 for a drop spreader; a new line painting machine for crosswalks and roadway markings; and replacement of aging equipment used for snow and ice control, street markings and general maintenance.
• Police vehicle replacement: $55,000 for a new patrol vehicle, intended to maintain reliability and reduce maintenance costs.
• Personnel and benefits: Collective bargaining agreements are in effect through 2027, with a 3% annual wage increase.
“The 2026 budget represents a balanced, forward-looking approach to community investment. By aligning revenues with realistic expenditures and addressing infrastructure needs now, West View Borough continues its long tradition of responsible stewardship and fiscal transparency,” Fromlak says in his report.
West View Council is scheduled to vote on the budget during its meeting beginning at 6 p.m. Dec. 10.
