Leetsdale officials plan to hold the line on real estate taxes with their 2025 budget.

Council unanimously voted Nov. 14 to advertise its estimated $2.9 million preliminary spending plan.

Budget documents indicate the millage rate will remain at 9 mills.

Of that, 8 mills are planned for general purposes and 1 mill for road reconstruction and infrastructure.

Projected revenues include about $1.151 million in real estate taxes; $1.06 million in local enabling taxes, including earned income and business privilege tax; $195,000 in state shared revenues and entitlements; $85,000 in interest, rents and royalties; $38,650 in business licenses and permits; $33,300 in fines and forfeits; and $19,000 in charges for services.

Projected spending includes $803,000 for police; $633,800 for highways and streets, including public works salaries and vehicle maintenance; $171,000 for general government, including council and mayor compensation; liability and workers compensation insurances; $169,000 for the borough office, including administrative salaries and supplies; $142,600 for debt service; $140,000 for recreation; $87,570 for fire protection; $57,000 for tax collection; $43,750 for legal services; $25,000 for sanitation; and $11,600 for EMS. There are no cuts to programs or services.

It also does not contain any major purchases such as new police and public works vehicles.

The borough provides garbage collection and recycling to residents.

Borough secretary/treasurer Jennifer Simek said the budget is very tight with little wiggle room for changes prior to its formal final passage on Dec. 12.

About $150,000 was budgeted for paving. Streets have not been selected.

Simek said there are additional repairs besides streets covered under highway spending.

“We always make sure we have enough in case we have to do a sewer line or a catch basin, anything infrastructure on top of our paving,” Simek said.

This year’s budget was about $2.66 million.

Scott Zahner, councilman and finance committee chairman, attributes the projected $240,000 increase in spending to rising health insurance costs, the addition of a new full-time police officer and inflationary factors.

“We’re carrying more benefits, and there’s annual raises,” he said.

Some of the moves the borough plans to make to offset costs include changing banks next year to generate more than $65,000 in interest earnings.

Zahner declined to state which bank because transfers have not been finalized.

Other council members, including Vice President Osman Awad, commended Simek and Zahner for their financial management.

“We have a good budget because (they) work hard on it,” Awad said.

Councilman James DeGori said he expects the borough to be able to follow the spending plan and wants to see money allocated for a new leaf vacuum and other public works equipment in 2026.

The budget is available for review at the borough office, 373 Beaver St.