Rate hikes, but no tax increases proposed for Freeport's 2025 budget

Monthly charges for sewage and trash collection would go up for Freeport residents next year, but the property tax rate would stay the same, under the borough’s proposed $2.5 million budget.

Sewage ratepayers could expect a $7 increase per bill, bringing the debt service surcharge to $47. That’s a hike of 17.5%.

Trash collection rates also would rise, from $21 to $23 a month, which amounts to a 9.5% increase.

The debt service surcharge was put in place to fund an expansion and overhaul of the borough’s sewage treatment plant and will be lifted once the facility, now under construction, is paid off.

Freeport is paying about a third of the cost of the roughly $19 million plant through bond issues and municipal savings, with the rest coming from state and federal grants.

Borough Manager Zachary Filous said the rise in trash collection rates is being floated to keep up with cost increases built into the borough’s contract with Waste Management. The borough is paying Waste Management $20.80 per unit now, and that’s increasing to $21.60.

Property taxes will stay the same at 15 mills. The owner of a home assessed at $100,000 will continue to pay $1,500 a year to the borough.

Filous noted that less money would go into reserves from the state liquid fuels tax fund under the spending plan to have additional dollars for streets, sidewalks, road salt and electricity for street lights. There also would be a drop-off in the sewage fund reserves.

“Previous administrations had saved up a lump sum in preparation for the sewage plant upgrade, and now we’re drawing down that sum as planned,” he said.

Council is expected to vote on a final budget at its Dec. 2 meeting.