Jonestown Borough’s second budget reading shows no tax increase

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Jonestown Borough Council approved the second reading of the 2026 budget at the Nov. 5 meeting and voted for the solicitor to advertise the budget 10 days before the December meeting.

The second reading showed expected expenditures at $509,059.40 and expected revenues at $508,609.40, though the numbers can still be adjusted prior to the final budget approval.

Read More: Jonestown Borough to advertise updated firearms ordinance, reviews 2026 budget

The second reading estimates the borough will bring in $424,100 across all forms of tax revenue. Delinquent tax revenue is at $2,500, fines and forfeits are at $6,000, interest and rent are at $2,250, and total intergovernmental revenue is at $21,059.40. Total non-tax revenue was estimated at $45,700, and total non-uniform pension revenues were $7,000.

The income is similar to the $508,534 amount outlined in the first reading of the 2026 budget.

Expenditures, on the other hand, increased slightly from last month’s estimated $505,405. General government expenses are estimated at $308,411.45, highways and streets are at $49,300, parks and recreation is at $8,700, payroll expenses are at $14,000, and the borough building is expected to cost $51,444 for the year. Fire safety costs are estimated at $36,325.60.

Public safety costs are anticipated to increase from $33,000 in the 2025 budget to $40,878.35, as outlined in the second reading. This money goes to the Cleona Borough Police Department. Officers currently come to the borough for 25 hours per month, but council members are considering a request to increase the time.

Council president Daniel Shuman said the borough is not expecting a tax increase, and a small deficit can be covered by funds it has available.

“We have money on hand,” he said. “There’s maybe a small difference right now, but we work on the figures to the final draft so that it’s balanced. We were still talking about some things, so it’s not finalized, but we are not going to have a tax increase. We can maneuver the numbers to make that work.”

Council also debated adding a borough manager position, and not everyone at the table agreed. Mayor Joe Quairoli spoke up during the meeting, saying he’s in favor of adding the position since there are some duties a borough manager could fill that they don’t have anyone doing now.

Councilman Jeffrey Schott, on the other hand, questioned why they were pushing for this new position now, before the newly elected council members take office. He also said they should create a specific job description before a final decision.

Quairoli said he would work on a job description in the next few weeks and bring it to the council at a future meeting.

In other business, council:

• Adopted the updated firearm ordinance.
• Voted to service the borough’s skidloader, which council member Jay Young said hasn’t been serviced since 2002. The estimated cost is $1,200, which will be paid for out of the general fund.
• Voted to place the pavilion kitchen and bathroom flooring at an estimated cost of $700.
• Agreed to participate in the GLRA Free Christmas Tree Recycling Program.
• Purchased light bulbs for the borough’s snowflake lights at an estimated cost of $130.
• Swore in junior council member Lia Almer. Almer will not have voting power, but can attend the meetings and share her opinions.

Jonestown Borough Council will have a planning workshop meeting on Nov. 24 at 6:30 p.m. and its next regular meeting on Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m. All meetings will be at the Jonestown Borough building at 295 S. Mill St.