By Tom McGee

Published: Wednesday, November 28, 2012, 8:50 p.m.
Updated: Thursday, November 29, 2012

Officials of several municipalities are moving closer to finalizing their 2013 spending plans.

Sharpsburg officials are the latest to present a preliminary budget for next year.

The budget was slated to be proposed Tuesday night.

Councilman Matthew Rudzki said that the budget plan does not call for a tax-rate increase next year.

The borough raised taxes by half a mill and introduced a water tower fee in 2012.

Officials have previously discussed removing the water tower fee once enough money is collected to pay for repairs to the borough's water tower.

Rudzki said officials worked to cut certain line items to prevent another tax increase for next year.

“The amount budgeted for paving had to be cut, and borough employees, except for those under contract, will not be receiving raises,” he said.

The millage rate for Sharpsburg will be determined after Allegheny County releases its final certified tax assessment values, Rudzki said.

The revenue from property taxes will likely remain the same for next year's budget, Rudzki said.

Aspinwall officials took a similar approach to their budget when its spending plan was presented earlier this month.

Sharpsburg officials are satisfied with the budget process for this year, Rudzki said.

Blawnox officials plan to finalize their budget next month, borough manager Sherry Kordas said.

She said Blawnox officials also are waiting on the tax assessment values before determining a tax rate.

The borough's agenda meeting is scheduled for Dec. 10 and the final voting meeting for Dec. 20. Both begin at 6:30 p.m. at the borough building on Freeport Road.

Aspinwall officials advertised their budget, without a tax increase, earlier this month and plan to vote on the nearly $2 million spending plan on Dec. 12.

That meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the borough building on Commercial Ave.

Tom McGee is an associate editor for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-856-7400, ext. 1513 or tmcgee@tribweb.com.

There are currently no comments for this story.
Subscribe today! Click here for our subscription offers.