The budget presentation highlighted several key financial challenges and decisions influencing the tax rate. Notably, the borough faced significant cost increases, such as a monumental 40% rise in state health benefits and a 5.83% increase in sewer costs. Despite these pressures, competitive pricing in waste and recycling services resulted in no additional cost increase for the next five years. The budget also emphasized the borough’s fiscal management, allowing $1.3 million in taxing authority to expire instead of increasing taxes further.

A significant portion of the budget is allocated to employee salaries and benefits, with police protection being a major expenditure. The borough also invests in essential services such as road maintenance, garbage collection, recycling, and public safety. The water utility budget, which is self-sustaining through customer fees, will see a 5% rate increase, down from 9% in 2025. This increase supports ongoing capital improvement projects, including the state-mandated replacement of galvanized water service lines with copper, planned to continue through 2031.