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No Tax Increase in 2026 W.O. Budget
Spending increases slightly over 2025
By T.J. Martin
The Tube City Almanac
January 05, 2026
Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak residents will see no real estate tax increase under the 2026 budget passed by the borough council as 2025 drew to a close.
Finance Committee Chairman Jason Russell said the budget has expenditures of $6.75 million and will be balanced against revenues with $161,559 added from the fund balance. The tax rate is 9 mills.
Last year’s budget was $6.67 million.
Russell said some highlights of the 2026 budget include funding for 13 police officers including the chief of police and seven public works employees, $200,000 in a capital fund reserve for future street paving projects and a $25,000 payment to be spread over the next two years as the borough’s matching fund to a grant of $50,000 from the state Municipal Assistance Program to pay for an update of the borough’s zoning ordinance.
The budget, he said, also includes funding support for the borough’s fire departments and emergency medical service, the athletic association and library, community events and the recreation committee, upgrading the technology in the administrative offices and borough pool office and upgrading the equipment used by the borough police.
The budget was approved 6-0 with Council Member Julie Opferman absent.
Passage of the budget was the last official act for Russell and Joelle Maree Harbert. They along with Opferman were defeated in the November election by Brian Dinkfelt, Amy R. Satereanos and Janice Kortz. Among the four incumbents on the ballot, only Loree Scharritter was re-elected.
The three new councilpersons and Scharritter will be sworn in at the council reorganization meeting today (Jan. 5).
Originally published January 05, 2026.
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