Fox Chapel property tax rate likely to remain steady

Fox Chapel residents will likely pay the same real estate taxes to the borough in 2021 thanks to council’s tentative approval of an $8.6 million budget.

The property tax rate is expected to remain the same at 2.95 mills.

If the final budget is approved, the owner of a home assessed at $200,000 will again pay $590 to the borough.

Council could vote during its 6 p.m. meeting Dec. 21.

Finance director Jeanine Mancuso said real estate taxes and earned income tax (EIT) will comprise more than two-thirds of the borough’s annual income. Property taxes are expected to come in at $3.6 million and EIT will total $2 million, just slightly lower than in 2020 which Mancuso attributes to the covid-19 pandemic.

She said that despite an expected shortfall of $793,000 in revenue versus expenses, the budget is recommended since the deficit combined with net revenues in past years will likely break even.

Also, the borough has $180,000 in an infrastructure emergency fund that could be drawn from for unexpected costs such as bridge repairs, Mancuso said.

“The largest expenditure in this budget is for the contracted road paving program at $1.3 million,” she said.

The borough will again bid its project jointly with O’Hara to save money. The public works crew will perform necessary storm sewer work prior to paving in order to lengthen the lifespan of the roads.

Officials expect to pave 12 roads in 2021.

Other expenses next year will include $390,000 to the Cooper-Siegel Community Library and $46,000 to Foxwall EMS.

The proposed budget also includes the replacement of a backup server, upgrades to the current security system and the replacement of a public works dump truck.

The borough is expected to continue work on the new energy-efficient public works garage, spending about $2.6 million toward the project next year.

Mancuso said residents will see a slight savings in their garbage bills through Vogel Disposal. The new contract cuts the monthly bill per household from $36.38 to $35.24.

“Fox Chapel is the only community in the North Hills that provides its residents with garage door pickup and weekend rubbish bins for household items,” Mancuso said.

Some of the significant changes made from the prior garbage contract include the elimination of glass from recycling pickups and the addition of a twice-a-year collection of electronic items and household hazardous waste.

Residents also pay 19.86 mills in Fox Chapel Area School District taxes, which is $3,972 on a home assessed at $200,000.