Nov 13, 2002 By Christine Haines 3 min read

BROWNSVILLE – A review of tax revenue in the borough shows that non-property tax revenues are going up, helping Brownsville hold the line on property taxes while still meeting increased budget needs. Council president Jack Lawver said the earned income tax (EIT) revenue has shown small, but steady, growth over the past three years. In 2000, the borough budgeted about $93,000 in anticipated EIT revenue, but collected $97,000. In 2001, the EIT brought the borough more than $99,0000.

“This figure shows that some younger families are moving into the area,” Lawver said.

Lawver said other revenue sources are also helping to offset the need for an increase in property taxes. A contract for additional security at Fayette County Housing Authority properties in the borough is helping to offset the cost of operating the police department and building permits are bringing in more money than expected, Lawver said.

“There are improvements taking place that are bringing money in,” Lawver said.

A special meeting will be held on Nov. 21, at a time as yet to be determined, to adopt the tentative budget of $180,634. Lawver said that county assessment figures still haven’t been provided to the borough, so the exact millage needed to generate those local funds hasn’t been determined. He said it appears as if the millage will be around 4.58 mills under the new assessment system based on 100 percent of market value. Taxes last year were levied at 19.27 mills under the old system that used a percentage of market value for the assessed value.

Lawver said that because of the change in the tax structure, the borough could only raise the revenue generated by the property tax by five percent, or about $9,000, this year, but he said that increase most likely will not be needed.

Councilman Shawn Bush reported that the 2002 tax anticipation loan is now paid off. Council voted to begin the application process for the 2003 tax anticipation loan.

In other matters Tuesday, Councilman Martin Redigan said Victor Paving will be in the borough this week to assess the streets to be paved and to begin the paving project. Four streets are slated for resurfacing. They are Cadwallader, David, Union and Hummel streets.

Redigan also commented on vandalism in the past month at the Brownsville Riverside Wharf and at the Commons on the North Side.

“This vandalism has to stop,” Redigan said.

It was suggested by several residents that the borough curfew be enforced to try to cut down on the problem. Mayor Norma Ryan said that while the borough no longer blows the fire whistle to signal the curfew, it is still enforced.

“We put the blame on children, but I think it’s adults acting as children,” Lawver said.

“We’re going to catch whoever’s doing it and they will be dealt with.”

“Take back your town and you’ll eliminate a lot of that,” said resident Robert Hess.

Ryan asked residents to help serve as the eyes and ears of the police department.

She also urged witnesses to be willing to testify against vandals, not just report the initial incident.

Ryan also noted that a handful of volunteers completed the final clean up of the year along the banks of Dunlap Creek in a project sponsored by the Izaak Walton League. There are plans to develop a park and a trail along the creek.

“If we could now kindly ask the people not to drop their trash into the creek any more. With cooperation, this could be a really nice project,” Ryan said.

Tons of trash, including tires, appliances and furniture, have been removed from the creek over the past year.