Deadline looms for signatures to study possible adoption of home rule charter in Franklin Park

Franklin Park residents only have until Aug. 26 to collect the 164 signatures required to be placed on the next election ballot to serve on a commission to study the pros and cons of possibly switching to a home rule charter.

The borough needs to have seven residents on the commission to investigate whether Franklin Park should consider adopting a home rule charter, which could offer more financial flexibility and help address the borough’s deficit.

This was part of a discussion during a home rule charter open house Aug. 13 at the borough building, hosted by council members Laura Czekaj and Tom Schwartzmier.

“We’re just trying to answer your questions and why it’s being considered and why it’s been put on the ballot,” Schwartzmier said.

The borough will have two questions for Franklin Park residents in November’s general election: one on whether a government study commission should be formed to study the existing form of government and whether to recommend adopting a home rule charter; the second would be to select seven candidates to be on the commission who made it to the ballot.

Czekaj said she only knew of one person who was collecting signatures, although others may be doing so. Potential government study commissioners only need to be a resident and get their signatures submitted to Allegheny County’s Elections Division in Pittsburgh by the end of day, Aug. 26.

Home rule charter offers more flexibility in creating revenue for the municipality, which has been operating on a deficit for at least five of the past seven years, according to the discussion.

“Costs are going up while income is remaining flat,” Czekaj said.

If the vote to study a home rule community passes, those voted onto the government study commission will have nine months to study the current form of government and recommend whether Franklin Park should become a home rule charter community.

If it recommends it, then the commission has another nine months to draft a charter, which will appear on the ballot at the next election for Franklin Park voters.

If seven people aren’t put on the ballot to be on the commission, a person can get at least 164 people to write them in on Election Day.

If none of this happens, then the whole process fails, and Franklin Park cannot present the same question again for at least five years per state law, according to Czekaj.

Czekaj said home rule does not allow Franklin Park to create more types of tax. Currently, it has four tax categories, including the earned income tax, real estate property tax, real estate transfer tax and local service tax.

As a borough, Franklin Park can only raise the real estate property tax. But as a home rule charter community, Franklin Park can adjust the levels of the earned income tax, the real estate property tax and real estate transfer tax.

The borough is the fifth-lowest in Allegheny County at 1.59 mills.

Under home rule, potential increases of raising the earned income tax from 0.5 to 1% could generate approximately $1.18 million in income under home rule; doubling the real estate transfer tax would generate another $550,000. Real estate property tax could decrease or stay the same.

If home rule does not go forward, then Franklin Park may have to opt to raise property taxes to 2.14 mills, a $143 annual increase on a $260,000 home, generating about $1 million annually. This still would not be enough to make up the deficit, which has come about from less development, aging infrastructure and rising costs.

The borough could cut more expenditures or do a combination.

The community has been borrowing from the reserves but that is not a viable, long-term option. Continuing to do so can affect the borough’s credit rating and borrowing status, and create more debt, according to the discussions.

A chart presented at a June meeting showed that, in 2025, there is an approximately $1.25 million deficit.

The borough already has started paving fewer miles and using thinner asphalt than in previous years, but this is not an effective long-term strategy, Czekaj said.

“We, as council, are looking at every option,” said Czekaj, including raising fees for items such as licensing and permits, rentals and more.

Schwartzmier said residents will “have several checkpoints along the way” to vote for or against something in regard to a potential charter.

Biggest costs are employees, followed by public works, funds such as capital expenses and other expenses. As a home rule, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation would be required to maintain stormwater drains on the state roads in the borough.

The borough was approved for a grant consisting of several million dollars to add an addition to the public works garage, which currently parks some of its equipment outside. But since Franklin Park couldn’t contribute the $700,000 required for the grant, they could not receive it, Czekaj said.

Nearby municipalities also are home rule, including McCandless, Hampton, Bradford Woods, Mt. Lebanon and Pine.

Potential costs to the process of becoming a home rule charter could include fees for a consultant, if council chose to hire one.

The government study commission meetings will all be public.

“We can sit here and listen to their debate and their discussion,” Schwartzmier said. “If we were to adopt home rule, any significant changes would also be by voter referendum.”

Franklin Park is operating in a deficit. It’s recommended that 17%t of the budget be in reserves, but the borough has only 11% due to borrowing for expenses.

Tax increases also will be managed so no revenue windfall would occur. Council President Uday Palled said the borough cannot have more than 105% of the previous year’s revenue.

“I appreciate the meetings you have and the openness. There’s got to be a way to raise additional income legally, one way or another,” said Tom Mueller, a 56-year Franklin Park resident.

Toby Rechenmacher, a resident for 15 years, was concerned taxes would be raised and nothing solved. He attended the open house to hear more about the home rule option.

“If you raise taxes, I don’t mind paying for something that is going to be a value. I’d rather pay more taxes and really improve things,” he said.

Several residents offered support on the investigation at the meeting, while others questioned the details. Fewer than 30 people attended the open house, out of the estimated 6,000 homes in the borough.

Franklin Park officials continue to stress to residents that if the vote fails, the borough cannot place the question on the ballot for five years.

“People are not interested or involved until their tax bill comes,” Mueller said.

To learn more about the home rule charter, visit franklinparkborough.us or call 412-364-4115.