Jonestown Borough Council approves 2026 final budget with no tax increase

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Jonestown Borough Council approved its 2026 budget with no tax increase at the Dec. 2 meeting.

The local real estate rate will stay flat for borough residents at 1.8 mills.

The approved budget outlines $548,484.40 in expected revenues, with $457,500 expected to come from current taxes, making up the largest portion of borough income. In other categories, $2,700 is expected from delinquent tax revenue, $7,000 from fines and forfeits, $2,250 from interest and rents, $21,109.40 from intergovernmental revenue, $49,925 from non-tax revenue, and $8,000 from non-uniform pension revenue.

Total expenses are balanced with income at $548,484.40. $36,925.60 will go toward fire safety, which includes $12,360 for fire hydrant rentals and $13,600 for ambulance services. The borough also budgeted $49,250 for highways and streets, $9,200 for parks and recreation, $57,044 for the borough building, and $40,878.35 for public safety. The entirety of the public safety funds go to Cleona Borough Police Department for coverage.

The most significant portion of the expenses, $341,186.45, will fund the general government, including paying borough office staff and maintenance workers, paying for office supplies, and supplying insurance and workers’ compensation.

The numbers are similar to 2025’s budget, which also outlined around $550,000 in both revenues and expenses for the year. A copy of the full approved budget is included below.

Council received updates about the budget at several meetings before the final approval, with council members saying the budget was in good shape and no tax increase was necessary. Councilman Jeffrey Schott said in October that they wouldn’t have had the votes to pass an increase.

“I think we did a good job with the budget, and it’s nice to not have to tell taxpayers they have to pay more money, especially in this time right now, where things are so tight,” council president Daniel Shuman said Tuesday.

In other business, council:

• Approved Schott’s resignation. He submitted his letter of resignation because he is set to become borough mayor in January. Council then voted to appoint current council member Justin Shuey to serve in Schott’s vacated seat, which will be up for election in 2027.
• Voted to approve $725 in year-end bonuses for borough staff. The three full-time workers will receive $200 each, and the part-time worker will receive $125.
• Renewed iWorq, which helps the borough manage code violations.
• Renewed an agreement with All Traffic Solutions for the borough’s speed sign for $1,500.
• Appointed Light-Heigel & Associates Inc. as the interim code enforcement officer until council appoints another officer, effective Jan. 1.

Jonestown Borough Council will have a planning workshop meeting on Dec. 22 at 6:30 p.m. and its next regular meeting on Jan. 5 at 6:30 p.m. All meetings will be at the Jonestown Borough building at 295 S. Mill St.