Dec 15, 2017 2 min read

MONONGAHELA – Monongahela property taxes will hold steady at 6.5 mills in 2018 as city council on Monday adopted a budget with no tax increase.

In November, the preliminary budget had a deficit of $53,489. Last month, Councilman Tom Caudill said he anticipated a balanced budget, and he was true to his word.

Council passed the 2018 budget that includes $2,985,215 in expenses and $2,988,029 in revenue, leaving the city with a $2,815 surplus. Council accepted a bid from Key Bank for a $500,000 tax anticipation loan at an interest rate of 1.98 percent.

Council voted to again put the former Armory building on Second Street up for sale with the starting bid at $5,000 and a stipulation that the building will offer a space for youth recreation center. In January, the city put the building up for sale by private auction with bids starting at $20,000.

Daniel and Angela Gorman had the winning bid of $22,510 with the stipulation that the facility would remain a food bank and be used for a youth recreation facility. At the time, the Gormans were agreeable to the stipulations. Councilman Daryl Miller said he didn’t know why the deal fell through.

Mayor Bob Kepics presented Caudill with a certificate of appreciation of his service to the city. Caudill, who served on council for 14 years, lost his re-election bid and will leave the board at the end of the year.

Caudill said he was proud of a number of things he helped to accomplish during his terms on council, including rehabilitation of the Monongahela Aquatorium, refurbishing of the Chess Park gazebo, construction of a new street department building, the improvements to the handicapped accessible city sidewalks, erection of the One Extraordinary Street plaque on Park Avenue and the dedication of the Monongahela Bridge to honor Gen. Carl E. Vuono, a former Army Joint Chief of Staff.