2021 Bradford Woods budget leaves tax rate, spending levels unchanged

The more than $934,000 budget for 2021 approved by Bradford Woods council provides funding for all the services provided by the borough without the need for a tax increase.

The spending plan, which is about $3,000 less than this year’s budget, anticipates $463,400 from the real estate tax, which is the largest source of revenue for the borough. The borough expects to take in about $477,325 this year from the tax on property.

“Due to the pandemic, the borough has experienced small budget shortfalls in collected earned income tax and real estate tax for 2020,” said manager Natalie Thiess. “But we will maintain the same millage rate for 2021 and anticipate spending the same amount on road maintenance, which is our largest expenditure.”

In December 2019 council increased the tax rate for the first time in five years to help pay for anticipated increases in the cost of road repairs, police protection and legal fees.

The rate jumped from 2.483 mills in 2019 to 3.375 mills for 2020, an increase of 35.9%. But even with the hike, the borough has one of the lowest real estate tax rates in Allegheny County.

The unchanged millage rate means residents will continue to pay a little more than $3.37 for each $1,000 of their property’s assessed value, or $674 for a home valued at $200,000 to help fund borough operations.

The borough has budgeted $275,000 for road paving next year, which is the same amount spent this year and is the single largest expenditure.

The second largest spending item in the budget is the $210,000 spent for police services from the Northern Regional Police Department, which also patrols Pine, Marshall and Richland townships.