Monongahela budget with tax increase approved

Councilman Roy Sarver said fiscal responsibility made the hike necessary.

The City of Monongahela held an early-morning special meeting Tuesday to take final action on the 2026 budget, which passed by a 3-2 margin with a 2-mill property tax increase.

The budget was originally presented Dec. 10, with council also voting 3-2 to raise the tax millage rate from 9.75 to 11.75 mills in the proposal.

Supporting the increase were Mayor Greg Garry and Councilmen Roy Sarver and Daryl Miller. Council members Sarah O’Brien and Mark Gadd opposed it.

Tuesday’s final vote had the same outcome, with O’Brien and Gadd voting no.

Sarver, director of accounts and finance, said the 2026 budget comes down to fiscal responsibility. He added that no one working on the budget wanted to increase property taxes.

“The 2026 budget has been available for public inspection, line by line,” Sarver said. “For a population of over 4,000 people, only two people viewed it. Only one other person has met with me to discuss items about the budget, and I appreciate her input.”

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

Projected revenues are set at $4,087,716 with 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 is second place with $1,492,785.

Revenues, expenditures and other fixed taxes, which had no substantial change, were also finalized Tuesday. O’Brien and Gadd voted no again, but the budget line items still passed.

Garry said at Tuesday’s meeting that the increase affects everyone

on council since they all pay taxes, and he said there is no animosity with those who voted no because he hopes they can work together next year to do what’s best for the city.

“What it comes down to is, and it’s really basic: do you like the way the city is being run right now?” Garry said. “Do you like the street department and all the work that they do with the streets today? Do you like our police department and the work they do? If you do, you’ve got to pay for it. The way to pay for things is to raise millage. No one wants to do that, but it has to be done sometimes.”

Sarver added that it’s easy to blame council and asked residents to provide input and not just come to one meeting and say don’t raise taxes “It’s tough to look at what we already have on the docket,” Sarver said. “The taxes are collected, and we can’t help that. We have to be good stewards. It’s easier to look at the budget, not raise taxes and not provide solutions.”

Reorganization and other items

Garry asked council during the meeting if everyone would be willing to keep their current positions for next year, and they all agreed.

Sarver will remain director of accounts and finance, O’Brien is still in charge of public safety, Miller is in charge of streets and improvements and Gadd continues with parks and properties.

“I’m glad you agreed to stay on because you all do an excellent job at what you do, and I appreciate all the work that you put in,” Garry said. “Everyone does an excellent job.”

O’Brien thanked everyone, including city workers and police, for their hard work in 2025.

“I know it wasn’t easy, and we’ve had some struggles along the way, but the office staff and everybody that we have worked with has been professional, and we’ve had a good year,” O’Brien said.

According to Gadd, there are changes that are coming to the city parks in the next year, but it just takes time and money to get done.

He added that he appreciates those who use the parks and take care of them on their own.

“I would like to thank the council and the mayor for the cooperation we have had over the past year,” Gadd said. “I am sure we can continue to do the same.”

In other business:

• Prowaste, LLC will be coming in to handle sanitation services for 2026 since Big’s Sanitation, the city’s usual vendor, did not submit a bid. Those who get an invoice for the first quarter of next year should contact Big’s Sanitation.