Dec 9, 2013 1 min read

Canonsburg Borough Council Monday approved a final budget for 2014 with no tax increase for residents.

The $4.5 million budget includes $1.5 million for the police department, with money for a new police cruiser.

In other business, council tabled discussion of possibly issuing a bond to satisfy Canonsburg-Houston Joint Authority’s $4.2 million outstanding debt.

The sewer authority and borough have spent the past several months in negotiations to determine a way to refinance the authority’s debt and pay for expansions to the sewage treatment plant, which could cost about $25 million if the project goes forward.

Board members Richard Russo, Patricia Romano and Joseph Graff Sr. were absent, and council indicated that it would prefer to discuss the options available regarding the authority.

The board did approve appointing councilman Paul Sharkady to a committee the borough is forming to discuss the sale of the authority to Pennsylvania American Water Company, which has expressed interest in purchasing the authority.

Council also tabled a vote on the joint authority’s operating budget.