COCHRANTON – The Cochranton Borough Council has given its preliminary approval to a 2022 borough budget that does not increase borough taxes or utility costs.

Members voted unanimously on Monday to approve the budget of $ 585,056 which keeps borough property taxes unchanged for 2022.

However, the borough is using an expected one-time revenue gain of $ 101,000 to balance next year’s budget.

The council expects to earn at least $ 100,000 from the sale of a commercial building and a two-story apartment building owned by the borough. The borough is accepting offers on the property until December 6, and the real estate closure is expected to be completed in early 2022.

The borough acquired the property for $ 69,000 in October 2020 as part of an out-of-court settlement agreement with the then owner, Alan M. Sheehan. The purchase was part of a settlement of a 2019 lawsuit that the borough brought against Sheehan over the condition of the building.

Without the planned real estate sale, the borough’s 2022 budget project would have a budget deficit of approximately $ 50,000 with an increase in taxes to rebalance it for the next year.

With the 2022 budget balanced by the planned sale of the building, Cochranton is able to maintain its real estate mileage rate at 14.25 mills. This means that the borough’s property taxes are $ 334.88 for a property valued at $ 23,500 – the Crawford County median assessment.

The borough’s water and sewer budgets continue to operate autonomously, allowing Cochranton to maintain current utility rates for 2022.

The borough’s minimum rate for water service remains at $ 32.75 per month for 2022 with the minimum rate for wastewater unchanged at $ 57 per month. Monthly residential water and sewer bills are based on usage.

A new five-year contract with Tri-County Industries Inc. for the voluntary household garbage and residential recycling service keeps the borough’s household garbage collection unchanged in 2022. The fee is $ 19.50 per month in 2022 with unlimited weekly garbage collection at the curb and voluntary recycling during the week alternately.

However, council members said they will have to review residential charges for the remaining four years 2023 to 2026 – as the new waste treatment contract contains an annual increase for each of those years.

Cochranton’s final 2022 budget approval expected to take place at December 6 board meeting

Keith Gushard can be reached at (814) 724-6370 or by email at [email protected]