HARRISVILLE — Borough council approved a tax decrease for residents by 2.5 mills for the 2026 and 2027 seasons at a special meeting on Tuesday, March 18, to resolve an error that overcharged residents last year.

The plan to lower taxes for the next two tax seasons was approved by all members of the council, minus Councilwoman Mary Ann Hughes, who left the borough building during the executive session before the meeting.

Council President Kathy Bray said the previous council approved a property tax increase from 8.25 mills to 13.25 mills, set to begin in 2025. However, the new millage rate was wrongly collected for the 2024 tax year.

Council members approved a plan in February to decrease taxes in 2026 and 2027 by 2.5 mills, but backlash from residents and a need for legal review pushed them to hold the special meeting to resolve the issue.

Borough solicitor Sean Gallagher said the plan to lower taxes was reviewed and is legal.

“It’s prudent for the borough to try and reestablish public trust after a clerical error happened,” he said on the council’s decision.

Residents of Harrisville at the meeting received a short document explaining millage rates and two options the council considered — to either lower taxes or take out a loan of $22,000 for immediate repayment.

“ (The loan) would amount to total debt of $30,000 depending on the rate of interest. That is $8,000 of your tax dollars to pay for this,” the document said.

At prior meetings, residents expressed worry for those who may move or die before the two tax seasons end, and would not be reimbursed via taxes.

Council included a clause that states any taxpayer who sold their property in 2024 or is selling in 2025, as well as those with an estate, may receive their refund via check. To receive a check, council must be presented tax cards from 2023 and 2024, and proof-of-sale documents.

Many residents who attended the meeting signed up to speak during a public comment section before the vote. Some residents spoke in favor of a tax decrease, while others suggested immediate repayment was necessary.

“Yes, the council made a mistake. I don’t believe it was made with the intent to defraud the taxpayers of Harrisville. However, the taxpayers have had an undue burden, and that burden continues in both of these proposals,” resident Debra Hyatt-Burkhart said. “You’re asking the taxpayers to pay for someone else’s mistake.”

Hyatt-Burkhart continued by explaining that many residents are elderly and on a fixed income and residents who fall under the clause will be further inconvenienced by the documents.

Beverly Kennedy, another borough resident, expressed her support of the tax decrease option.

“I’m totally in agreement of 2.5 mills for the next two years. Otherwise, we are going to be paying extra in taxes to cover the cost of the loan and interest,” she said. “The taxes are already paid. We’ve already bore the burden, why make us bear more?”

After the meeting, Bray said having the situation resolved was a “relief.” She tried to resolve the situation when the tax season ended in July, but was delayed by the tax lawyer’s family emergencies and other borough business.

“It’s been looking at me for a year and it’s because I couldn’t do it quicker,” she said.

The next Harrisville borough council meeting is set for 7 p.m. April 14.