No increase in tax rate anticipated for 2018

Brentwood council is scheduled to vote Dec. 11 on a $16.7 million budget for 2018 that does not call for a property tax increase.

The property tax rate will remain 10 mills, with each mill generating about $400,000.

Council on Monday voted 4-0 to adopt the proposed budget, with Stephanie Fox, Harold Smith and Rich Schubert absent.

“Council and the administration have worked very hard to hold the line on taxes while continuing to provide services for residents,” council President John Frombach said.

The real estate tax rate was last raised in 2016 when it was increased by 1.25 mills.

The proposed budget calls for transferring $1 million from the sewer fund and $200,000 from the general fund for the municipal building fund.

The money will go toward the borough’s $6.4 million municipal building project, which involves relocating administration and council to a renovated civic center in Brentwood Park and housing the police department and Brentwood Emergency Medical Services in a new municipal building at the former Snee Dairy site at 3735 Brownsville Road.

Mr. Frombach said council expects to undertake a $5 million bond issue in the spring to fund most of the project.

The current municipal building at 3624 Brownsville Road is over a century old and in need of extensive, costly repairs.

The proposed budget may be viewed online at www.brentwoodboro.com and at the municipal building.