Slippery Rock Borough Council convened on October 16 at 7 p.m. for regular business, focusing on the 2025 budget for the borough.
2025 budget
Borough Manager Christian Laskey highlighted the rising cost of healthcare in 2025. The new estimated total for continuing the health insurance for borough employees is $92,000, compared to last year’s $62,000.
Laskey reported Slippery Rock Borough is working to receive a quote from a consortium of around 80 municipalities. These quotes are in addition to the price they received from McGroarty & Bradburn who developed the $30,000 increase.
Council President Jeff Campbell attributed the increasing taxes to rising health insurance around the region, noting his participation in formulating the Moniteau School District’s budget and increased insurance costs.
“It was not for fluffing the budget, it wasn’t for crazy programs,” he said, referring to Moniteau School District. “It was purely because of the insurance costs and we couldn’t absorb that.”
According to PricewaterhouseCoopers International, an 8% increase for the group market combined with inflationary pressure, prescription drug spending and behavioral health utilization could lead to “highest level in 13 years” of medical cost growth.
The rising costs put the borough in a predicament of either cutting down on employee healthcare, cutting funding elsewhere or raising taxes.
Laskey and Campbell both echoed the borough employee’s desire for better healthcare, citing examples where employees declined raises or days off as a compromise.
“This could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back here,” Campbell said of the situation. “I honestly don’t see a way around this.”
Laskey said more quotes will be in by the end of the month as the borough continues to work through its 2025 budget.
Other happenings
Slippery Rock Borough Police produced 23 traffic citations; four more citations compared to the 19 noted in the September 17 meeting. Mayor Jondavid Longo said crime continued to see an uptick since the start of the Slippery Rock University Semester.
“[It’s] not that the student body is criminal,” Longo said. “But more people means more potential [for crime].”
A new business in Slippery Rock, Branded Western Co., will have its grand opening on November 1. The business is located at 152 S. Main St.
Nancy Baker, member of the Slippery Rock Zoning Board, passed away on October 14, 2024 at the age of 68. The Slippery Rock Borough Council held a moment of silence in her honor.
