West Chester Mayor Says She Hopes Boro Can Avoid Tax Hike

WEST CHESTER, PA — Revenue in West Chester Borough fell with parking revenue this year, and a preliminary budget called for a 13 percent raise in taxes.

West Chester Borough's budget deficit and possible tax hike will be matter for discussion at a borough council meeting Oct. 14.

Mayor Dianne Herrin said Borough Council is pondering a property tax increase because "the 2021 Borough budget projections are currently $670,000 out of balance, due in part to reduced parking revenue."

The preliminary 2021 budget includes a 13 percent proposed property tax increase. However, work on the budget will continue through December. Herrin said the borough's revenue assumptions, the potential to dip into the "rainy day fund," and further expense reductions are all still under consideration.

Herrin said efforts in the months ahead are intended to "further reduce or eliminate a 2021 property tax increase."

A budget for West Chester Borough will be adopted in December, and Herrin said she wants to see a balanced budget for 2021.

"In this vein, Police Chief Jim Morehead and I will be presenting to the Borough Council Finance Committee our recommendations for reducing expenses (more so than we already have) in the Police Department budget, without reducing services," Herrin said on Friday.

"There is a clear threshold at which cuts to the Dispatch and Police Departments will mean cuts in police protection services, and our recommendations will not go beyond this threshold. I strongly believe we are not at this point for the 2021 budget cycle," Herrin said.

The mayor said she also believes "The taxpayers must be part of a comprehensive discussion about (their own) public safety needs before any such decisions can be made.

Herrin encouraged attendance in the virtual October Finance Committee meeting, asking borough residents to be a part of this presentation and discussion.

The meeting is Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m. The link will be provided at www.west-chester.com, under "Virtual Borough Council Meetings."