Brackenridge residents will pay 21% more in property taxes next year after council approved the borough’s $1.5 million budget Thursday.
The plan calls for an increase in the tax rate from 7 to 8.5 mills. The owner of a home assessed at the median value of $50,900 will pay $432, an increase of about $76.
Council President Tim Connelly attributed the increase to rising costs across the board.
“Everything is higher these days,” he said. “We’re trying to get a lot of things done here in Brackenridge.”
Mayor Lindsay Fraser said a recent $1.2 million bond is largely responsible for the tax hike, with the borough’s bond payment in 2026 expected to be $96,000. Subsequent yearly payments are expected to be about $84,000, Fraser said.
“That’s a major payment we’ve added,” she said.
The bond will cover, in large part, construction of the borough’s new public works facility but also will be used for capital improvements and an expanded road paving project.
At Fraser’s request, council on Thursday enrolled in the Local Government Academy’s Community Financial Health Assessment Program, which provides training for staff and elected officials as well as a full assessment and audit of current funds, accounting and operations.
“Following recent administrative staffing challenges and changes, and given the status of current and upcoming major projects and looming tax increase, I reached out for technical assistance from the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services,” Fraser said.
The program will likely begin in January.
“The final report will offer multiyear fiscal projections and suggestions for improvement in financial management and operational efficiency,” Fraser said.
Following that, the borough will be eligible for the Strategic Management Planning Program grant to support the cost of implementing those suggestions.
Councilman Dino Lopreiato said it would be unfair to residents not to increase taxes incrementally. The tax increase is necessary to keep the borough moving forward, he said.
“If we didn’t do this, we’d take a hit all at once,” Lopreiato said. “No one wants that.”
