Aspinwall to raise taxes about 22% next year

Aspinwall property owners should expect to pay about 22% more in real estate taxes next year.

Council unanimously voted Nov. 8 to advertise its 2024 preliminary budget, which includes a 1.5-mill tax hike.

Next year’s millage rate would go from 6.86 mills to 8.36 mills, should the spending plan be passed Dec. 13.

Councilman Heth Turnquist, finance committee chair, said the tax hike is necessary because of rising expenses due to inflation and projected wage hikes in new public works and police contracts.

Those contracts are still being finalized, said borough Manager Melissa O’Malley.

“In addition to things being more expensive, we’re doing things that need done (with our) infrastructure,” Turnquist said. “People have been talking about our water system. We’re doing a preventive maintenance program in Aspinwall (and) patching roads.”

How much more property owners would pay in taxes next year depends on the property’s assessed value.

O’Malley said the 1.5-mill hike equates to $150 more in real estate taxes per $100,000 of assessed value.

The borough’s last tax increase was in 2019, from 5.86 mills to 6.86 mills.

The tax hike is expected to generate about $300,000 in additional borough revenue.

“We had to put a lot more thought and time into (the budget) as far as making sure we included the projects that we needed to complete and to be funded, but also to make sure we were able to fund the day-to-day operations,” O’Malley said. “Not only are we trying to get some stuff done, we are trying to not raise taxes astronomically.”

Projected revenue includes $2.025 million in property taxes; $990,850 in local enabling act taxes, such as mechanical device taxes and occupational taxes; $146,400 in fines, including $38,000 from street meter parking; and nearly $195,000 in miscellaneous revenues, including curb cuts and state contributions to the Firemen’s Relief and Pension Fund.

Projected expenses include $789,800 for police; $322,300 for highway maintenance, including snow and ice removal, material and supplies, lighting and salaries; $281,400 for insurance; $120,000 for fire protection; $98,300 for parks; and $51,600 for planning and zoning.

The preliminary budget is available for review at the borough office, 217 Commercial Ave.

Capital projects include $475,000 for Fifth Street retaining wall repairs; $100,000 for brick patching and paving; $75,000 for a water valve replacement project; $50,000 toward a multi-use court and pickleball courts; and $50,000 for a parking study.

The borough expects to collect an additional $70,000 in revenue from fines and $60,000 in business privilege taxes in 2024.

Council voted in August to raise the business privilege tax from $100 to $500. That tax had not increased since 2004.

Parking fines were increased in May 2022.

Turnquist said the borough has exhausted all options to prevent a huge tax burden on its residents.

“We haven’t raised it in a long time, and it’s something we’ve been talking about for over a year,” he said. “I’m happy that we kept it around the number that we’re at. I think we’ve done as good to keep the cost on the taxpayers (to a minimum).”

O’Malley said police and public works contracts may be brought before council for a vote next month. She said she could not release any details until council approves them.