By Kate Wilcox

Published: Friday, January 4, 2013, 7:34 p.m.
Updated: Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Oakmont officials unanimously passed a final budget for 2013 that will not raise taxes.

The $3.35 million budget, which was approved Thursday night, keeps taxes at 4.5 mills.

“Nothing significant has changed,” said Borough Manager Lisa Cooper Jensen.

Council did express interest in reopening the budget in the new year, once the borough receives more information on tax reassessment from Allegheny County.

“I don't know if we'll even need to do that or not,” Jensen said.

“We'll see what we find.”

Police budget set

The police budget, which was the subject of debate during the budget process, is set at $1.25 million.

It includes about $65,000 for raises to promote two officers to sergeant, as well as an extra $30,000 for part-time officers.

The 2012 budget for part-time officers was $110,000. It will be $140,000 in 2013.

Police Chief David R. DiSanti Sr. said he would ideally like to add an eighth full-time officer to the force, but would compromise by adding part-time hours to keep three officers on duty during the Monday through Friday day shift.

There has been discussion between council and the police department over whether or not to sell the department's motorcycle, for a profit of about $15,000, but Jensen said that no action was taken on that issue.

In November, DiSanti and Mayor Robert J. Fescemyer argued against selling the police motorcycle, saying that it is a good public relations tool for the department.

Kate Wilcox is a freelance writer for the Valley News Dispatch.

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