Chester County commissioners are poised to raise residents’ real estate taxes by 13.47 percent at a Dec. 18 meeting.
While Republican minority Commissioner Eric Roe plans to vote against the $636.3 million operating budget for next year, Democratic Commissioners Chair Josh Maxwell and Commissioner Marian Moskowitz support it. The county also has a $93.6 million capital budget, bringing the total budget to $730 million.
Chief Financial Officer Julie Bookheimer presented the budget to commissioners on Nov. 20, calling it “fair and reasonable.”
Roe told DVJournal that Chester County residents, both renters and homeowners, cannot afford increased real estate taxes, which would result in increased rents. Citing an MIT study, he said, “Chester County is the most expensive county to live in in Pennsylvania.”
“And raising taxes makes it less affordable,” said Roe. While items in the budget are not wasteful spending, “it’s just that we can’t afford those good things.”
The problems for Chester County started when the Democrats took over in 2019, he said. They had a comparison study done that showed county employees should get paid more so they raised their salaries.
“It wasn’t paid for with recurring revenues,” said Roe. “It was paid for in large part by federal stimulus dollars that have now dried up.”
Guy Ciarrocchi, who ran for Congress as a Republican, called the budget “irresponsible, unnecessary and tone deaf.”
Facilities improvements at the prison are included in the capital improvement fund. She mentioned the county’s costs for various items, such as paper products, have increased, similarly to household budgets.
Every 10 years, the county updates law enforcement handheld radios and the computers in emergency vehicles, she said. Those purchases are included in the budget, adding $10.5 million.
Employee benefits increased by $1.4 million, largely from prescriptions. She said personnel wages are also being increased to remain competitive with surrounding counties. Human services is the largest expenditure, and it is slated to increase by $9.5 million.
Some 44 percent of the budget is from state and federal grants, with real estate taxes next at 33 percent. The capital budget increased by $23.6 million, with $25.5 million scheduled to be borrowed for various projects, Bookheimer said.
Moskowitz said, “This is a tough year, I think.”
Maxwell agreed it was a “tough year.”
He noted $10 million of the increase was for the police radios, which are no longer being paid for through bond issues, while another considerable expense is $4.5 million for prison improvements, prison security, and air handlers to get fresh air inside.
He mentioned the “historic inflation” that’s “ravaged our country,” and proposed cutting back on county expenses by 8.3 percent to avoid increasing taxes. The county could also sell some unused properties, including office buildings it owns but are not being used.
Residents expressed their frustration.
“While I understand that Chester County has not raised real estate taxes since 2021, I think the 13.47 percent increase is irresponsible,” said West Chester resident Beth Ann Rosica. “Maybe the county should consider cutting costs rather than raising taxes by such a high percentage? For example, the county health department was incompetent during COVID, and I could argue they did more harm than good. Cuts in that department could be used to offset the overall budget. Ultimately, the county has to learn to live within its means, and if they cannot afford all expenses without a large tax increase, they need to cut costs.”
Felice Fein of West Goshen said, “Anyone who was paying attention knew this was coming. The county accepted ARPA (COVID) money, which was intended to be a temporary help to small businesses and others who were suffering due to closures and distancing requirements imposed by the governor. The Democrat-led county commissioners created new, permanent county department jobs (and funded other programs), but they didn’t have a permanent income stream to pay for those expenses.
If the millage increase is approved, the total increase will be $60.50 per year per $100,000 of assessed value. The medium assessed value of a house is $170,040.
If adopted, the tax hike of 0.605 mills, from 4.551 mills in 2024 to a proposed 5.156 mills in 2025. A mill is worth $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value.
“From the same gang that let [escaped prisoner] Danilo Cavalcante run free,” added Ciarrocchi. “Maybe we need a DOGE commission for Chesco—and then new commissioners.”
The commissioners will meet at 10 a.m. at 313 West Market Street, 6th floor, West Chester.
