West Chester Borough Council raised property taxes by 5% as part of its $35.7 million 2024 budget. The budget covers police, fire, emergency services, trash, recycling, streets, recreation and other services. The average taxpayer living in a house assessed at about $178,600 will pay an additional $70 a year in real estate taxes. Sean Metrick, borough manager, said the increase was required to fulfill staffing needs and provide the highest quality municipal services. The annual police budget amounts to $11.1 million. In 2024, the borough will fund 56 police officers. The fire department’s annual budget is about $466,700, and the emergency management department's services are about $158,300.
Source: West Chester Patch; 12/13/2023