McKeesport OKs budget

By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com
McKeesport residents will see a property tax increase in 2020.
In a 6-1 vote at Wednesday’s meeting, council passed the 2020 budget, which is balanced at $22,675,901.
Councilman Jim Barry Jr. cast the lone no vote. Councilmen Tim Brown, Brian Evans and Keith Soles, Councilwoman LuEthel Nesbit, council President Rich Dellapenna and Vice President Jamie Brewster-Filotei all voted yes.
The budget shows a near $2 million decrease in expenditures from 2019.
Despite the decrease in spending, the budget — proposed by Mayor Michael Cherepko and prepared by city Administrator Tom Maglicco and Finance Director Tasha Phelps — comes with a 2 mill property tax increase on buildings and a 2 mill tax increase on land. The millage rates for 2020 are set at 20.5 mills for land and 8.26 mills on buildings.
Cherepko said the “nominal increase” translates to “a monthly increase of less than $10 per month for a home valued at $50,000.”
He said he knows tax increases are difficult on property owners who “are on a fixed income in these trying economic time,” and has been “a longtime proponent of maintaining the city’s tax rate,” but feels “it would be fiscally irresponsible to maintain our current property tax rate.”
In a personnel-related matter, Cherepko announced that Gene Eskin, who until Wednesday was a captain with the McKeesport Fire Department, was promoted to the position of deputy chief. The position became available earlier this year when former Deputy Chief Don Sabol retired.

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