Edgeworth officials to hold the line on property taxes with 2024 budget

Edgeworth officials plan to hold the line on real estate taxes with next year’s budget.

The borough’s 2024 preliminary spending plan was unanimously approved last month.

It maintains the millage rate at 4.15 mills.

The final budget is slated for adoption Dec. 19.

It would mark 21 years since Edgeworth raised taxes, should the budget be approved as-is. Council lowered the millage rate in 2013 from 5.4 mills to 4.15 mills.

Projected revenues and expenses were listed at about $3.247 million.

Expected income includes $1.625 million in real estate taxes, $1.235 million in local enabling taxes including earned income and business privilege taxes, $99,000 in state shared revenue, $40,100 in licenses and permits and $40,000 in interest earnings.

Expected spending includes $912,600 for police protection, $443,000 for public works, $236,000 for executive expenses including administrative salaries and supplies, $106,750 for fire protection, $70,000 for insurance, $57,500 for legal services, $25,400 for tax collection, $16,460 for ambulance service and $15,000 for engineering.

There are no cuts to programs or services.

Councilman Ivan Hofman said having a plethora of high-earning residents and a watchful eye on spending helps prevent passing on increasing costs to all property owners.

“We spend every dollar as if it’s coming out of our own pocket,” he said. “We really are very careful with every dollar we spend.”

Borough manager John Schwend echoed that statement.

“We have experienced strong revenue from earned income tax and real estate transfer tax which have allowed us to keep the tax rates the same,” Schwend said. “This is combined with conservative spending across all departments in order to make sure that we are only spending what we need to.”

Borough officials have a variety of capital projects planned for next year.

They include sewer upgrades along East Drive near the Edgeworth Club, sanitary sewer lining on Church Lane and proposed Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant parking at the borough building.

Borough documents indicate $350,000 has been allocated for the construction of a new retaining wall along Beaver Road, which supports the road between Edgeworth and Church lanes.

Hofman said they hope to get some state grants with the help of state Rep. Valerie Gaydos, R-Allegheny, to offset project costs.

Other improvements planned for next year include some sidewalk and curb replacements, and installing a guardrail at a bridge near the Quaker Valley Shopping Center.

“Borough council and the professional staff will continue to spend cautiously in 2024 while still striving to deliver exceptional services and sound infrastructure improvements that will benefit the borough for many years to come,” Schwend said.

The borough budgeted for another full-time officer next year.

Borough documents indicate full-time police salary/wages will increase from $365,000 to $477,800.

Hofman, police committee chair, said the new officer was hired earlier this year and adds stability to the department.

“We had to do that because it’s extremely difficult to get part-time patrolman,” he said. “It didn’t used to be that hard, but I guess with the situation with police in general (across the country), we couldn’t get enough part-timers.”

There are five full-time officers, including the police chief, and one part-timer.

Hofman also lauded the police and borough dispatchers for their commitment to getting to know the borough and not just a paycheck.

“Our police know the residents,” Hofman said. “We even know the dogs and who the owners are; that’s how personal our interaction is with the residents. That’s critical to us.”

Edgeworth’s public works department will be under new leadership next year.

Department director and building code official Fred Gregorich of Aleppo plans to retire in early 2024. He served Edgeworth for 22 years.

Gregorich was recognized last year by Quaker Valley Council of Governments for his years of service.

James Vicheck of McCandless was chosen in May as his successor.