O'Hara residents not likely to see property tax increase in 2021

O’Hara residents aren’t likely to see any property tax increase next year after council approved its tentative 2021 budget.

The plan totals $13.9 million and maintains a tax rate of 2.1 mills.

If approved, the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 will again pay $210.

Council is expected to meet at 7 p.m. Dec 1 and 8, and is expected to vote on the final budget on Dec. 8.

Manager Julie Jakubec told listeners during a Nov. 17 Zoom budget workshop that council enacted cost-saving measures when the covid-19 pandemic hit in spring.

“Because of the uncertainty of revenue sources, we began limiting spending to critically needed items only,” she said.

The township scaled back the road program by 75%, from $1,1 million to about $275,000.

Other capital projects and purchases were postponed, Jakubec said.

“The minute the shutdown happened, council began implementing the measures,” she said.

Formulating next year’s budget, administration acted conservatively because of the potential lingering pandemic impacts.

Jakubec said the township typically sees a 98% collection rate for real estate taxes but this year is likely to average about 96%.

“A big hit will be taken in local services tax,” she added.

That’s the $47 collected from people who work in the township.

Spending-wise, highlights of the township’s plan include $75,000 each to Parkview and Pleasant Valley volunteer fire departments, and another $75,000 split among the departments who provide mutual aid.

Council slated $25,000 for Parkview EMS.

Jakubec said money will be spent on continued training for the police department, where some of the officers recently underwent diversity training and are planning to be educated in de-escalation tactics.

There will be a $120,000 subsidy to Lauri Ann West Community Center, as usual.

The township’s capital projects budget tops $3.1 million and includes $1.1 million for road paving.

“If we finish the year better than planned, we will have alternate (roads) that we can award,” Jakubec said.

Council also plans to spend $300,000 for a stormwater facility on Epsilon Drive in RIDC Park and $25,000 for new in-car video cameras for the police department.