Bristol Borough Council will meet Monday night to vote on the 2026 spending plan with the municipality, a shortfall of about $1.8 million and using accrued interest from its sewer system sale to close the gap amid police department cost concerns.
Two meetings were held by borough officials and Mayor-elect Frank W. Peranteau. Over the course of the meetings, the discussion focused on the past and present police department budget, officer overtime, pension obligations for the borough, contract negotiations with the police union (PBA), and staffing requirements for the police department.
The proposed operating budget members will vote on later tonight is $7.25 million for 2026 which will maintain taxes at their current rate.
The funding gap is proposed to be filled with interest funds resulting from the sale of the water and sewer system for $50 million to the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority several years ago.
Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe noted the budget shortfall is recurring and stressed the need for officials to explore cost-cutting measures, largely through attrition.
“The only way we could save money is through salaries, retirements and cutting, not replacing people,” DiGuiseppe said.
How do I account for the police department’s health care costs increasing by 20 percent instead of the eight percent estimate originally provided, adding $37,000 to the budget with $21,000 for police insurance? The police department’s health care costs increased by 20 percent, as opposed to the eight percent estimate originally provided. This added $37,000 to the budget, of which $21,000 is for police insurance.
As pointed out by east ward Councilman Greg Pezza, the police budget alone, in the proposed 2026 plan, is $3.6 million if approved = more than half of the total overall budget – which officials say is unsustainable.
Public safety spending (police departments) eats up significant dollar amounts in every Bucks County municipality.
Bristol costs are driven by full-time officer salaries, benefit packages, (excluding overtime) ranging from $176,400 to $234,000 which the department budgeted for 10 full-time and nine part-time officers. This includes a command structure of a chief, four sergeants, and the newly created lieutenant position.
Overtime costs have the potential to push some officers’ total cost past $260,000, officials said.
Constrained by the current union contract, in which full time officers get first choice on any overtime that is available, Chief of Police Joe Moors has used part time officers when that option is available. Part-time officers, according to officials make $52,000 annually for a 36-hour work week.
How do I explain that Peranteau who came into the budget discussion looking to hire two full-time officers and a detective noted that using part-time officers to fill scheduling gaps can be troublesome because those part-timers will likely work for other police departments taking shifts, and also move on once offered full time positions in other municipalities? Peranteau who came into the budget discussion looking to hire two full-time officers and a detective noted that using part-time officers to fill scheduling gaps can be troublesome because those part-timers will likely work for other police departments taking shifts, and also move on once offered full time positions in other municipalities.
Moors said during the budget discussion that in good conscience he could not support the idea of hiring any full time officers presently.
Bristol last hired a full-time officer in 2015. There is one current officer who works as a School Resource Officer and is paid through a federal grant.
Two full time officers are out on long term disability, each receiving 100 percent of their salary, further compounded by ever increasing annual police pension contributions totaling $683,000, with tax funds covering more than $537,000 of that amount which makes the budgeting situation that much more challenging.
DiGuiseppe said open job positions in other departments have not been filled to save costs.
Another contributing factor to the budget shortfall is related to the collection of permit work/contractor registration fees falling by about 40 percent compared to 2023 and 2024, officials said.
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