Residents pack Monongahela council meeting to oppose tax hike

Council voted 3-2 to pass the proposed 2026 budget with a 2 mill property tax increase.

During a meeting packed with residents, Monongahela council approved a proposed budget on Wednesday that includes a 2-mill property tax increase.

Shown are Monongahela council members Roy Sarver, Mark Gadd, Mayor Greg Garry, and Sarah O’Brien

By a 3-2 vote, council voted to raise the tax millage rate from 9.75 to 11.75 mills in the proposed budget. Voting in favor were Mayor Greg Garry and Councilmen Roy Sarver and Daryl Miller. Council members Sarah O’Brien and Mark Gadd voted against the increase.

Under the proposed 2026 budget, for a median property value of $106,300, they will pay $1,249 in municipal taxes, a rise of $212.57 from last year or a 20.5% increase.

Revenues for the 2026 spending plan are set at $4,087,716 and expenditures at $4,086,494, which results in a $1,222 surplus for the city. The city department with the highest expenditures is the accounts and finance department, with $1,676,212, and the public affairs department falls in second place with $1,492,785.

Sarver, who is the head of accounts and finance, gave a statement on some of the financial issues the city is facing. According to his statement, the closure of several city businesses, including Rite Aid, resulting in a loss of $6,100 in mercantile taxes in one year.

He added that fees and licenses have declined, and that the overall increase in the cost of everything has put a burden on the city.

“My colleagues and I have cut our departments’ budgets in order to balance this budget,” Sarver said. “We all will work throughout 2026 with what is allocated in the budget. Neither they nor I want to increase property taxes. However, to vote no to this budget with a no-property-tax-increase budget as an alternative will adversely affect our outstanding fire department and other essential services. That is why I am voting for the proposed budget.”

Garry reiterated some of Sarver’s message, stating that the cost of living has led to the tax increase. He added that the Monongahela Police Department and the city street crew are probably some of the largest expenditures for the city.

Several residents expressed anger towards council about the increase in taxes.

“We can’t afford it, you’re looking at raising our taxes at a time when people can’t afford groceries,” said resident Guy Flament Jr. “We are a traditionally older community, older people on fixed incomes.

“Here it comes down to fiscal responsibility. It’s easy to raise these taxes; it’s tougher to look at what we have already on the docket, the taxes we’re collecting, and cut out the fat. You have to be good stewards of our money.”

Resident Beth Cushey also addressed council.

“We don’t have any businesses here that are paying a high mercantile tax,” Cushey said, “There’s no industry here that is offsetting. And if this tax increase goes through, my city tax is going to be more than my school tax, which is ridiculous. I mean, I’m going to be paying over $1,000 for city tax, for what?”