Beaver Candidates Challenge Tax Hikes, Pushing for Local Transparency
(This story was updated.)
BEAVER — As voters go to the polls on Tuesday, citizens in one nearby community will encounter a different set of Republican candidates focusing on governmental expenditure and openness matters.
The group of contenders, unified under the slogan “Better for Beaver,” aims to introduce “financial prudence, openness, and responsibility” to their town. These rival candidates have emerged following the approval of a significant 56% hike in local property taxes and an overspending of $1 million above anticipated costs by the Beaver’s borough council in 2024.
“Being so inaccurate with their budgeting indicates they aren’t handling it properly,” stated Lincoln Kretchmar, who is running against others for the mayoral position. “Our team of candidates pledges to carefully examine every choice the council will make and weigh the potential fiscal impacts of these choices.”
For Republicans looking at alternate options, the choices include Lincoln Kretchmar (Mayor), Margaret McKean (Council Ward 1), Ron Stidmon (Council Ward 1), Ellen Kretchmar (Council Ward 2), Rebecca Beem (Council Ward 3), and Bill Egley (Council Ward 3). These candidates all advocate for openness and prudent financial management, expressing dissatisfaction with present political practices within their area and aiming to establish a “no deficit” budget.
Opponents running for the board include Thomas Hamilton (Mayor), Todd Hindman (Ward 1 Council), Margaret McKean (Ward 1 Council), Phil Oshaughnessy (Ward 2 Council), Roberta Good (Ward 3 Council) and Whitney Learn-Conjeski (Ward 3 Council). Robert Bickerton is the sole Democrat running unopposed in the primary for Ward 2.
“We’re looking to make government transparent for the people, so people are aware when big projects like a community center get decided,” Kretchmar said. “We’re hoping to bring more transparency to the council’s processes.”
What changed in the budget?
The main talking point in Beaver politics is the 56% increase in the property tax, which the council approved in December. The average tax for homeowners increased by 2 mills, or an estimated $500, annually.
Borough officials stated in a recent newsletter that the 2-mill tax hike was crucial not just for balancing the 2025 budget, but also for starting to rebuild the town’s reserve funds, ensuring readiness for unexpected issues ahead.
When taxes were increased,
reporters from KDKA
The board indicated that unforeseen hillside repair expenses and the necessity of funding from the pool house were among the costs confronting the community. However, according to a recent newsletter from the borough, they stated that the pool should not be considered a reason for increasing tax rates.
The borough clarified that this tax hike was not due to the refurbishment of the old pool house or the creation of a new swimming area,” stated their spring newsletter. “Refurbishing the historical pool house was seen as an intentional move to conserve a cherished structure and convert it into a versatile, income-producing venue available all-year round. Most of the financial support for this initiative originated from federal funds (which had to be utilized before the end of 2024) along with assistance provided through a county grant.
Reporters from
The Times
On April 17, 2025, they submitted right-to-know requests aiming to acquire the borough’s budgets spanning from 2020 through 2025, along with the real expenditures related to the 2024 budget. The borough responded on April 25 by utilizing their option for a 30-day extension due to “resource constraints.” Employees at the borough expected these files to be ready by May 20 or sooner; however, as of May 13, journalists had yet to receive them.
Although reporters were unable to acquire the budgets from prior years via the borough, the
The 2025 borough budget can be found on the borough’s website.
Moreover, contenders for the Better for Beaver initiative submitted right-to-know requests earlier this year concerning financial matters, making both the 2023 and 2024 budgets accessible as public records. These files have since been distributed to journalists at The Times.
For the 2023 and 2024 borough budgets, there are no provided cost estimates within the preliminary budget documentation specifically for the Pool/Concession Stand areas. The actual expenditures related to these sections are determined post-year-end; however, their projected allocations aren’t detailed in those reports. In contrast, certain renovation costs associated with the pool house can be found in the 2025 budget, though unlike other categories, they’re not separately itemized or summed up therein.
The most significant alteration in expenditures appears to be the “Contingency” fund, situated within the expenses category for the budget’s Executive/Manager/Mayor segment. For both 2023 and 2024, this fund had an allocation totaling $2,000. However, in the 2025 budget, this amount surged to more than $890,000. Consequently, the projected yearly costs for the “executive” branch escalated from approximately $510,000 to over $1.4 million, rendering it the second-largest expense for Beaver’s residents.
“As usual, the failure to allocate funds to the regions that require them highlights their poor planning,” stated Lincoln Kretchmar.
Other areas with smaller budgets have also experienced substantial rises in recent times, reflecting a broader pattern of enhanced services throughout the county. Beaver’s
police budget
The biggest expenditure for the borough has surged by more than $540,000 since 2023. It appears that the primary driver of this rise is higher wages and longer service bonuses for personnel. This consistent uptick in police funding isn’t exclusive to Beaver; numerous nearby towns also report comparable escalating expenses for their law enforcement agencies.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times:
Better for Beaver candidates challenging seats over tax increases, local transparency