BLAIRSVILLE BOROUGH APPROVES ADVERTISING 2025-26 BUDGET WITH SLIGHT TAX INCREASE

Blairsville Borough Council approved advertising the 2025-26 budget at their meeting Tuesday night, and it contains a slight tax increase.

Next year’s budget balances at $2,466,548 but a one mil increase was needed to ensure both expenses and revenues evened out. This marks the first tax increase since 2019. Borough Manager Jody Poorbaugh detailed what led to the uptick.

The budget will go up for approval next month.

In other business, members of the Blairsville Rotary presented a check for $8,000 to the Blairsville Parks and Recreation committee for upgrades at the town’s playground. Those upgrades include three new rides, a teeter-totter, and a balance beam.

Members with the Blairsville Rotary presented Blairsville Parks and Rec. with an $8,000 check for playground updates at the Borough Council meeting.

Rick Shoemaker said giving back to the community and its children is a focal point for the Rotary.

Lastly, council approved hiring Logan Cusimano as a full-time police officer. Cusimano was sworn in at Tuesday’s meeting by Mayor Ronald Evanko. He recently served with the IUP Police force and as a part-time officer for Blairsville.