Key Takeaways
- • Irwin, Pennsylvania borough officials proposed a $4.5 million general fund budget for 2027 that keeps real estate taxes at 23 mills, plus three mills for fire service, meaning no real estate tax increase for property owners.
- • The general fund budget is about $100,000 more than the current year's budget.
- • The street light fund levy rises by 0.5 mill to 2.5 mills, from two mills, because electricity rates rose about 37%, adding roughly $15,000 to the fund.
- • Council President Tyler Baum said the street light increase amounts to less than $1 per month for residents, and one mill generates about $30,000 in Irwin.
- • The borough plans a $22,000 transfer to its capital reserve fund for 2027 and faces a roughly 9% increase in health care insurance premiums; the budget includes employee pay raises.
Summary
Irwin property owners should not expect an increase in real estate taxes to support borough government operations in 2027, according to a proposed spending plan that borough officials discussed at their meeting last week. The $4.5 million general fund budget under consideration would hold property taxes at 23 mills, with an additional three mills dedicated to fire service provided by the Irwin Volunteer Fire Department. The general fund budget is about $100,000 larger than the current year's budget, per the report.
The main tax change involves the street light fund. The two-mill levy for that fund would rise by half a mill to 2.5 mills, driven by a roughly 37% increase in the borough's electric rates, according to Tyler Baum, council president, who spoke at the borough's Oct. 6 meeting. The adjustment would provide an additional $15,000 to cover electricity costs. Baum said the increase equates to less than a $1-a-month hike for residents. With one mill generating about $30,000 in revenue in Irwin, the change is modest in dollar terms. Councilman Frank Rossi predicted some residents may object to paying more for street lighting when no light is located on their street.
Other budget items include a planned $22,000 transfer to the capital reserve fund for 2027, an increase of about 9% in health care insurance premiums that the borough is absorbing, and pay raises for employees. Council will consider adopting a tentative budget at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the public works office on First Street.
Separately, renovation of the first floor of the borough building at 424 Main St., which will house administration and police department offices, is nearing completion. Work on the former appliance store space began in summer 2025, when initial projections called for completion by the end of 2025. Additional work pushed the target to around April and later to summer. Baum did not give a date for occupancy.
The main tax change involves the street light fund. The two-mill levy for that fund would rise by half a mill to 2.5 mills, driven by a roughly 37% increase in the borough's electric rates, according to Tyler Baum, council president, who spoke at the borough's Oct. 6 meeting. The adjustment would provide an additional $15,000 to cover electricity costs. Baum said the increase equates to less than a $1-a-month hike for residents. With one mill generating about $30,000 in revenue in Irwin, the change is modest in dollar terms. Councilman Frank Rossi predicted some residents may object to paying more for street lighting when no light is located on their street.
Other budget items include a planned $22,000 transfer to the capital reserve fund for 2027, an increase of about 9% in health care insurance premiums that the borough is absorbing, and pay raises for employees. Council will consider adopting a tentative budget at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the public works office on First Street.
Separately, renovation of the first floor of the borough building at 424 Main St., which will house administration and police department offices, is nearing completion. Work on the former appliance store space began in summer 2025, when initial projections called for completion by the end of 2025. Additional work pushed the target to around April and later to summer. Baum did not give a date for occupancy.
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