Aspinwall officials are crediting a strong housing market for helping to maintain the property tax rate in 2021, despite increased spending and pandemic impacts.

Aspinwall Council approved the borough’s $2.8 million budget, which holds the real estate tax rate at 6.86 mills.

The owner of a home assessed at $100,000 will again pay $686 to the borough in property tax.

Residents also pay 19.86 mills in Fox Chapel Area School District taxes, which is $1,986 on a home assessed at $100,000.

Manager Melissa Lang-O’Malley said personnel costs rose this year due to negotiated pay increases and that she expects slight increases in other typical borough expenses.

Highlights of the spending plan include $114, 550 in legislative costs; $122,000 for executive; $52,000 for the clerk/secretary; $369,950 for roads; $76,400 in parks and $59,700 for shade trees.

Council approved nearly $645,000 for police expenses and $201,800 for the volunteer fire department.

Finance Chair Heth Turnquist said the budget includes several projects that will add to the livability and safety of the borough.

There will be $100,000 spent on improvements to the fire department garage and $35,000 for a new police vehicle.

Council is eyeing a more than $600,000 sewer project along Western Avenue, which will be paid in large part with money from ALCOSAN. The borough will pay a 15% match, or about $80,500, for the sewer overflow project. Officials are hoping to land additional grants to pay the borough’s share.

Construction will include separating stormwater from the existing combined municipal sewer system to alleviate overflows along the stretch of road from Fourth Street to Alley A.

Council also is expected to pay for safety improvements along Freeport Road. Some of the upgrades could include work to bus stops and sidewalks in an effort to make travel better for bikers, walkers and bus riders.

Turnquist said the borough is fortunate that throughout the covid-19 pandemic and shutdowns, it has continued to receive earned income tax payments and other tax payments “as usual.”

Income from parking and meter revenue was down about 2-3% but O’Malley said administration will continue to monitor the situation.

“To date, Aspinwall is fortunately avoiding the negative financial impact hitting other municipalities,” she said.

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