Property taxes will remain consistent in Jonestown Borough for 2025

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

Jonestown Borough Council voted to keep the tax millage rate at 1.8 mills for 2025.

The millage rate is a multiplier that, when attached to the value of a property, is used to calculate local property taxes. It is $1 per thousand of a property’s assessed value.

Council president Tom Keefer said Jonestown isn’t dealing with some of the budget issues troubling other Lebanon County municipalities.

“Probably smaller budget than most of the townships and boroughs,” he said.

Council also approved the second reading of the 2025 budget, which is currently balanced with about $500,000 in both expected revenues and expenditures.

Read More: Jonestown Borough Council uses ARPA funding for crosswalk lights, excavating

Since the first reading on Oct. 1, a few numbers throughout the budget have changed.

Gross profit has increased from $536,319.40 in the first reading to $566,750.40 in the second. The increase came from an addition of $16,000 in the operating reserve fund, which wasn’t included in the first reading, a $5,000 increase in general fund interest, a $10,000 increase in projected earned income tax revenue, and a few smaller changes.

Expenses have also stayed relatively stable. Anticipated expenditures decreased from $569,092 in the first reading to $566,759.40 in the second reading.

The final budget will be brought before the council for approval at the December meeting, where it will be voted on before going into effect on Jan. 1.

In other business: 

• Keefer announced the borough received a $64,000 grant that will go toward purchasing a leaf vacuum costing $70,000. They will be getting the vacuum for next fall, at which point they will offer leaf collection services for anyone who rakes their leaves out to the curb.
• Council unanimously agreed to participate in a Christmas tree recycling program this year. Keefer said the trees will go to the Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority landfill. Residents will be able to leave their trees on the curb, and borough maintenance workers will stop by twice a week to collect them. Specific collection days will be shared later.

Jonestown Borough Council will have its next regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at 295 S. Mill St.