(1/2025) Carroll Valley residents will ring in the new year knowing their borough tax rate will remain stagnant. The borough council voted 5-2 during their meeting in December to adopt the 2025 budget, which keeps the rates the same as 2024.
Before the vote, Councilman John Schubring said he opposed the budget based on last year’s tax increase of one-quarter mill. Councilman David Lillard said the 2024 increase was about $32 per resident. The council raised taxes in 2024 to add a fourth full-time police officer to the borough’s force. John Schubring then attempted to block the tax increase during final adoption after not making comments during preliminary approval in November. Council President Richard Mathews reminded Schubring that last year’s tax increase was the first in 12 years.
Carroll Valley’s 2025 tax rates are: real estate, 2.75 mills, fire/EMS, 0.25%, earned income, 0.50%, and admissions, 0.5%.
Mathews also pointed out that the borough’s tax rate is the lowest of three property taxes residents pay. Bills issued early in the year include the borough and County of Adams. In the summer, residents receive a bill for Fairfield Area School District property taxes.
"I think a lot of residents are confused and think that every time the school taxes go up, or the county taxes go up, that Carroll Valley is raising the taxes," he said.
Adams County commissioners voted in December to increase county property taxes 15.8%, according to information posted on the county website.
Catherine Schubring also voted to oppose the budget. Before his comments on the budget, John Schubring denied his vote was in opposition to the police force.
"I strongly support our police department and the efforts Cliff (Weiker, chief) and others are making," he said.
About 30 minutes earlier, John Schubring called for an independent investigation into the Carroll Valley Police Department and Mayor Ron Harris. He said he believes an officer followed a former council member’s daughter in April because the former council member opposed the 2024 budget. Schubring did not name the former member, but Kari Buterbaugh was the only council member besides John Schubring to oppose the budget.
John Schubring believes the department’s investigation into the alleged April incident was flawed.
"I believe possible misuse of police authority has been going on for years in Carroll Valley Borough," he said.
No one commented on John Schubring’s remarks.
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