Tarentum taxes remain steady; water and garbage rates increase

Tarentum residents will pay the same in taxes next year but costs for water use and garbage collection will increase.

Council approved the borough’s $11 million budget with a vote of 5-0.

Members Lou Ann Homa and Adam Blythe were absent.

The property tax rate will remain at 5.48 mills, the same as it has been for 15 years.

The owner of a home assessed at $100,000 will again pay $548 to the borough.

Base water rates will climb by 10% across the board, Manager Michael Nestico said. Overage rates will increase from $6.73 to $8.21 for every additional 1,000 gallons.

Most customers fall under the category in which base rates will increase from $23 to $25.30 for the first 2,000 gallons, Nestico said.

“The decision to increase water rates was made to ensure that the water department is self-sustaining,” he said.

In 2020 and 2021, the electric department subsidized a portion of the water operation.

“As overhead costs continue to increase, we did not want to fall too far behind in the water budget,” Nestico said. “There have been significant cost increases in materials and equipment, which are causing the borough to spend more on chemicals, line repairs and system maintenance.

“We recognize that the increase in water rates is undesirable to our customers, especially in light of the other difficulties we face in the current economy but the borough is also facing those same economic hardships.”

By applying the bulk of the increase on the overage rate, council tried to apply the most equitable means for cost increases, he said.

“Those using more water are paying a larger share of the increased costs,” he said.

Trash rates also will be going up.

Residential trash collection will cost $25 a month, up from $22 — a near 13.6% increase.

It’s due to a 10% increase from Waste Management, Nestico said.

Tarentum’s bill went from $171.63 to $188.79 per ton.

Since 2018, the borough’s tonnage rate has increased 19%, he said, and this is the first time council has passed the increase to residents.

With the budget approval, council outlined several upcoming projects that residents can look forward to.

Three large sanitary and storm sewer repairs will cost $730,000, and another storm sewer repair project along Ormond Street will cost $600,000. The borough already was approved for $390,000 in grants toward the work.

Nestico said $90,000 is expected to be spent to raze eight properties through the borough’s anti-blight project.

Council member Carrie Fox said she is excited to start a fresh year and get to work on community development projects.

“We are in early talks for ideas to revitalize some areas and to help our business owners with a facade program,” she said.

“These things get me excited. I love to help people and bring good things to our community.”

Council set aside $290,000 for the creation of a Riverview Park and shoreline master plan, a redevelopment project in the Corbet Street downtown corridor and a West Seventh Avenue improvement project.

Nestico said council hopes to use the money as a match for state and federal funding opportunities.

Residents are able to review a copy of the budget at the borough office.