Leet officials approve budget with no real estate tax increase

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

Commissioners voted 4-0-1 Nov. 13 to advertise the 2024 preliminary spending plan.

The millage rate is expected to remain at 7.7 mills.

It has been at least four years since the last Leet Township tax hike.

Vice president Carolyn Verszyla abstained. She said she did not participate in a budget workshop and wanted more time to examine the plan before voting on it.

Verszyla noted the township has not approved a new police contract or set next year’s wages for nonunion employees.

Both subjects were listed as executive session discussion items on the Nov. 13 meeting agenda.

Projected revenue was listed at about $1.78 million and expenses of about $1,75, generating a surplus of about $29,000.

Expected income includes about $880,000 in real estate taxes; $465,000 in Act 511 taxes, including earned income and mechanical device taxes; $81,000 in state revenues; $46,000 in licenses and permits; $11,500 in charges for services; and $9,600 in fines and forfeits.

Expected spending includes close to $620,000 for police; nearly $370,000 for public works, more than $360,000 for general government, including administrative salaries, accounting services, tax collection and office supplies; about $99,000 for fire protection; just over $82,000 for recreation; $42,000 for legal services; and $13,500 for code enforcement.

Commissioner John Stephansky said crafting the budget was a team effort.

“We worked pretty hard to balance this budget, to make it equitable for the taxpayers,” Stephansky said. “I think we did a very good job. It was a lot of time well spent.

“Everything is going up (with inflation). We’ve been very fortunate getting grant money that we’ve been able to use for our road projects and sidewalks. We’ve been very fortunate with our engineering company getting grants for us.”

Commissioners president Martin McDaniel said there may be some tweaks, such as a reduction in advertising spending, leading up to the final budget passage Dec. 11.

A copy of the budget is available for viewing online at leettownship.org.

In traffic matters

• The commissioners approved the purchase of a portable speed table from Pleasant Hills.

Police Chief Brian Jameson described the speed table as a longer version of a speed bump and is designed to slow down motorists.

It is about 6 to 8 inches higher than the street and stretches about 10 feet.

“You don’t go and hit it and bottom your car out,” Jameson said. “You drive up this large hump. I think it’s going to slow traffic down. People are going to see them.”

The goal is to partner with Leetsdale and have the borough contribute to the cost of a second speed table, and install both of them along Beech Street.

Jameson said people use the road as a shortcut coming from Ambridge to avoid other traffic control devices.

Beech Street stretches from Beaver Road in Leetsdale to Orchard Street in Leet, which has a blind curve near the township/borough border.

The speed limit is 15 mph.

Leet’s speed table will be installed close to the bend and near an entrance to a manufacturing company.

• The township commissioners also approved putting a 2015 Ford Explorer police SUV on Municibid, an online government auction of government surplus.

Jameson said the vehicle has about 111,000 miles on it and the transmission needs work.

Township officials said they hope to get about $4,500 for it.