Despite a $2.6 million drop in assessed property value for next year, Greensburg council passed a 2026 budget that keeps the millage rate steady.
That decrease in total assessed value will result in about $21,500 less in property tax revenue for the city.
When initially preparing the 2026 spending plan, fiscal director Jason Paha estimated the total assessed value would go down by about $1.5 million.
“It went down a lot further than what we thought it was going to go down,” said Councilman Randy Finfrock.
The total assessed value in Greensburg for 2026 is $124.5 million, compared to $127.1 million in 2025, said Westmoreland County chief assessor Camdon Porterfield.
Money was moved around in the budget to make up the shortfall after the actual figure was provided last month by Westmoreland County Tax Assessment. Council unanimously approved the budget Monday, which keeps the property tax rate steady at 27.95 mills for Greensburg property owners.
The $13.4 million spending plan was introduced at council’s November meeting. It includes the redirecting of some of the expected revenue — about $40,000 to $50,000 — into a sinking fund used to pay down debt from the general fund. A surplus in the sinking fund no longer exists, so council will have to make some decisions next year about its debt structuring.
On top of the reduction in overall assessed value, the city is collecting about 96% of property taxes, down from 98% in recent years.
Municipalities are notified every November about their assessed value for the upcoming year to aid in budget preparations, Porterfield said. That amount can decrease based on successful property assessment appeals, and go up with new construction or development. Demolitions of buildings also reduces values, he said.
Greensburg saw a lot of assessment appeals in 2025, said city administrator Kelsye Milliron. It’s something that has Finfrock concerned for the future of municipal government finances.
“That’s just Greensburg,” he said. “We’re not alone.”