Penn Hills residents won’t see any tax increases or service cuts in 2024, but they will pay slightly higher sewage bills.
With the final budget approved Monday, residential rates climbed by 7%, to $24.63 per 1,000 gallons. The increase tracks with Alcosan’s planned 7% annual rate hike through 2026, which will fund infrastructure to reduce untreated runoff. The municipality’s service charge of $20 remains unchanged.
“We have to react to the pressure that Alcosan is under,” Manager Scott Andrejchak said at a Nov. 27 budget hearing.
As for taxes, Penn Hills kept its millage rate of 6.444 mills, meaning the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 will again pay $644.
The $67 million budget reflects a return to normal revenue levels as American Rescue Plan funds dwindle. The municipality will have spent nearly all $17.1 million of its federal stimulus by the end of 2023, leaving $615,178 left over for storm and sanitary sewer repairs in this latest budget.
More than half of the total stimulus went toward reimbursing public safety employees for lost wages during the pandemic, with storm and sanitary sewer repairs coming in second. Councilwoman Joanne Fascio said it was money well spent.
“We used our stimulus money wisely, and I believe we are going to be looking at a good year next year,” Fascio said.
Major budget items include:
• $11.2 million for police administrative, patrol, investigative functions, as well as crossing guards;
• $4.78 million for department of public works administration and street repairs;
• $4.52 million for garbage and recycling collection;
• $3.91 million for the planning department, primarily to maintain infrastructure;
• $3.38 million for emergency medical services, with $950,000 earmarked for new vehicles.
The full budget is available for review under the finance section of the municipality’s website or at the government center, 102 Duff Road. Andrejchak also offered a budget presentation during the second hearing, which is available on the Penn Hills YouTube page.
