No tax increase proposed for Oakmont

Oakmont’s proposed 2023 budget shows the real estate tax remaining at 3.73 mills.

Borough council plans to vote Dec. 19 on adopting the final version of the spending plan.

In its proposed form, as council authorized for advertisement on Nov. 21, the general fund budget calls for operating expenditures of $5.847 million, representing an increase of slightly under 2% compared to the current year.

Revenues for 2023 are projected at $5.117 million, with the resulting $729,834 shortfall to be covered by drawing from the borough’s cash balance, listed at $1.547 million as of Nov. 9.

In his message accompanying the proposed budget, borough manager Scot Fodi notes that revenues have remained consistent since the start of the covid-19 pandemic, but “the borough must continue to practice prudent fiscal management as we have not yet cleared the challenges of the pandemic,” such as costs of goods and services.

“As a result of the strong financial management steps taken in 2020, 2021 and 2022, the borough is in a good financial position to weather any unanticipated financial challenges,” Fodi states.

Bolstering the financial picture was the borrowing of $18.5 million at interest rates of less than 2.4% in 2021 for investment in capital purchases and infrastructure upgrades, most notably large-scale improvements to the borough’s wastewater treatment plant.

“These improvements when completed will keep our system independent of Alcosan and implement the latest technology in water treatment to enhance environmental safety,” according to the proposed budget.

Also, Oakmont has received $685,000 in federal American Rescue Plan allocations, which “have been set aside in a separate fund and will be targeted to critical stormwater infrastructure projects,” according to Fodi. Proposed for 2023 are:

• Installation of approximately 500 feet of new 15-inch storm-sewer pipe and inlets on Seventh Street at its intersection with California Avenue

• Replacement and repair of existing storm sewers at the intersection of Hulton Road and 13th Street to prevent reoccurring roadway flooding

• Replacing the existing storm-sewer system on Third Street near Washington Avenue to prevent intersection flooding during heavy rain

• Extending the storm sewer on California Avenue between Seventh and Eighth streets to separate an existing inlet from the sanitary sewer system

Other improvements proposed for next year, to be paid for from the borough’s Capital Road Fund, include stormwater control enhancements for discharge points at 12th and 13th streets, and relining a brick-construction 36-inch stormwater pipe on Fifth Street.

The Capital Road Fund also calls for $350,000 to be spent on the 2023 paving program, plus a project to refresh pedestrian crosswalks and curb markings.

Pedestrian-related projects also are addressed as part of the ongoing Oakmont Boulevard Project, a separate fund established by the borough in 1999 to maintain and improve its brick-street centerpiece. Among the items listed for next year are completing repairs to railings on steps and ramps, concrete and asphalt repairs, and reconstruction of curbs that are compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

The borough also plans to begin the conversion of 49 natural-gas lamps situated along Allegheny River Boulevard to LED.

To view the proposed budget, visit oakmontborough.com/budget.