On Monday, November 25, the Quakertown Borough Council held its work session to discuss the proposed 2025 budget.

            "There will be no increase in taxes," said Vice President L. James Roberts, Jr. The proposed real estate tax will be set at 1.62 mills at the regular December meeting.

            "We remain the lowest tax rate in the county," said Manager Scott C. McElree.

            The 2025 budget proposal for Quakertown Borough is $903,471,341, a 6.72% decrease from the 2024 budget. The operating budget is $813,035,159, and the capital plan is $90,436,152.  "We've always had a balanced budget," said Roberts.

            Included in the budget are improvements to infrastructure and facilities. The borough will update security at the borough hall and repair the front and face of the administrative buildings.  Large expenditures will be for the rehabilitation of Cedar Grove Park for approximately $1 million. The majority of the funds for the park are coming from grants awarded to the borough.

            The greatest financial expenditure for the borough will be spent on the cogeneration project for the sewer plant. This will cost the borough $25 million.  The proposed project involves constructing an Anaerobic Digestion and Cogeneration Facility at the wastewater plant. The objective is to generate renewable power from biogas produced by anaerobic digesters through the co-digestion of sewage sludge and organic external sources.

            In addition to the proposed budget, the council announced fee changes for the 2025 fiscal year. There will be a 16% electricity increase. A detailed explanation will be mailed out to residents in the next few weeks. This will impact industrial, commercial and residential electricity use.

            Trash collection fees will also increase by $2. The borough was aware at the start of trash collection contracts that there would be modest incremental increases.

            The council also explained that $753,000 will be budgeted for the fire company.

 "Big number. Justifiable," said Roberts. "Well-earned and deserved."