Bell Acres officials plan to raise taxes by about 5.8% next year

Bell Acres property owners should expect to pay about 5.8% more in real estate taxes next year.

Council recently approved advertising its 2026 budget that contains a 0.25-mill hike. That raises the millage rate from 4.82 mills to 5.07 mills.

The total millage includes a 0.5-mill fire tax.

The budget is expected to be approved on Dec. 8.

It’s been at least 10 years since the borough raised taxes, according to Borough Manager Lisa Fleming.

Bell Acres’ median property assessed value is $154,700.

Fleming said the rate increase will have those property owners paying about $39 more in taxes next year.

It will generate about $49,800 of additional revenue.

Proposed revenues were listed at about $2.325 million and spending at about $2.416 million. The estimated $91,000 gap will be closed by carry-over funds from this year.

Projected income includes about $993,000 in property taxes, $650,000 in earned income taxes, $200,000 in grants, $164,600 in intergovernmental revenues, $89,000 in bond shares, $70,000 in deed transfer taxes, $63,000 in interfund transfers $37,600 in licenses and fees, $25,000 in general fund interest and $10,200 in permits.

Projected spending includes $712,000 for police and public safety, $653,000 for public works and $363,000 for financial administration, including payroll, pensions, insurance and office supplies.

The budget also plans for $214,000 in executive costs, including administrative and mayoral salaries and health insurance, $131,000 for fire protection, $39,600 for tax collection, $29,000 for planning/zoning, $26,700 for government building maintenance, $20,000 for legal services, $17,850 for ambulance services, $8,000 for parks and recreation and $2,400 for engineering services.

Fleming said some residents may be able to earn a tax discount via the Senior Citizens Tax Relief Program with additional relief through Allegheny County and the state Department of Revenue.

The manager said they had to consider a tax hike to offset rising costs while maintaining programs and services.

“Prudent financial management of the budget remains a cornerstone of borough operations,” Fleming said via email Dec. 2.

“Despite rising insurance costs and significant increases in road construction materials, the borough continues to deliver dependable public works services, including asphalt and base repairs, right-of-way mowing, crack sealing, and vital winter maintenance, while strategically balancing fluctuating revenues.”

Fleming said the borough has received more than $792,000 in grants since 2022 to support the funding of various community projects. Among them were a blight demolition project, infrastructure improvements, borough park and recreational facility upgrades, essential police department and public safety resources, several purchases of new public works equipment and municipal studies.

“The borough continues to ambitiously seek grant opportunities and funding from both public and private sources,” Fleming said.

Council Vice President Brock Meanor also cited grants when talking about the borough’s future, including $200,000 in state Gaming Economic & Development Tourism Fund money for park improvements. They will include a new basketball court, rubber mulch for playground surfaces, park benches, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant parking and walkways and pickleball courts.

“We have been able to hold the line on taxes in the past, but rising costs forced our hand,” Meanor said via email Dec. 1. “I’m confident in our financial position and I feel we balance the needs of the borough with our taxpayers well.

“This increase did not come without significant thought and calculation, but nevertheless we felt this was the best way forward to avoid a potential significant tax increase in the future … like what we saw at the county level last year.”

Allegheny County raised its property taxes by 36% this year, the county’s first millage increase in more than a decade.