Oakmont property owners should not expect to pay more in real estate taxes or garbage collection as part of next year’s borough budget.

“We’re 99% done. That’s a big relief,” said councilwoman and finance committee chair Nancy Ride after Monday night’s near four-hour budget workshop.

It’s been about five years since council raised taxes to the current 3.73 mill rate.

Projected 2021 revenues were listed at about $4.4 million and expenses at $4.6 million with the gap to be closed with money from the borough’s estimated $400,000 cash reserves.

Borough Manager Scot Fodi said expenses were marked more than the general fund due to several storm water management projects that were not completed this year.

The end-of-November financial discourse focused on expenses with a little more than an hour and a half spent on a closed-door discussion about wages.

“We were just reviewing all the salary issues and will be deciding them at our next session,” Ride said.

Council’s next meeting is a workshop at 7 p.m. Dec. 7.

The budget’s expected to posted for review shortly after that meeting and adopted Dec. 21.

The paving budget was boosted to $350,000 since October.

Fodi said they are projecting a $45,000 savings in rock salt purchasing this winter, and hope to improve more roads as a result.

No brick rehabilitation for Allegheny River Boulevard is planned for next year.

Fodi said there may be spot repairs, but shop owners should not be worried about construction along stretches of the main business district.

Other proposed spending includes $10,000 for a street sweeper, $290,000 for the Oakmont Carnegie Library, replacement of 15 street lights along the boulevard with LED lights at a cost of $109 for each light and $278,000 for parks and recreation.

Projected park projects include removal of eight trees in Dark Hollow Woods, repair of fencing and baseball mounds, and installation of two charcoal grills at Riverside Park as well as upgrades to the walking trails at Creekside Park and Dark Hollow.

About $1.6 million of the proposed budget is allocated for the police department.

Borough officials plan to reduce part-time shifts and hire another full-time officer to cover that time.

The department has seven full-time members, including Chief Michael Ford, and seven part-time officers.

Four new security cameras for Riverside Park, adjacent to Riverview High School, are in the police section of the budget.

If approved, they would be installed atop the scoreboard, by the Second Street parking lot and in the lower section of the park by the pavilions.

Ford said last month that the camera purchases were proposed because the borough’s security system was upgraded about two years ago and can handle more cameras, and are not in response to any incidents in the park.

Next year’s tree planting and pruning has yet to be finalized.

The borough is working with its Shade Tree Commission and forester Brian Crooks to maximize that effort.

Fodi said trees to be planted will be “utility-friendly, sidewalk-friendly (and) street-friendly.”

“The roots aren’t going to upheave sidewalks,” he explained. “The trees aren’t going to be affecting the overhead utilities and they won’t be impacting the roadway.”

Fodi said budget planning during the covid-19 pandemic was easier than last year, and the borough was not significantly impacted by the loss of earned income and real estate tax revenue such as neighboring communities.

“It’s very easy to work with Scot (Fodi), and I’m pleased with how this whole budget came together,” Ride said.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)