Edgeworth officials hold the line on taxes with 2023 budget

Edgeworth property owners will not have to pay more in real estate taxes next year as part of the borough’s budget.

Council unanimously approved its 2023 spending plan on Dec. 20.

The millage rate remains at 4.15 mills.

It has been two decades since Edgeworth raised taxes. Council lowered the millage rate in 2013 from 5.4 mills to 4.15 mills.

Council president Joseph Hoepp said it was not easy crafting a budget with rising costs due to inflation.

“It was a tough job,” he said after the meeting. “We had to make some tough decisions and make sure everything was as efficient as possible. That continues every year. We haven’t raised taxes in 20 years, and it’s been a job every year to do that. We do that without decreasing services and try to be efficient in everything that we do.

“I think it’s a good plan and I think we’ll meet the budget next year without any problems.”

Borough officials said strong tax collection rates and careful spending habits were among the reasons a tax hike was not necessary. Budget planning began in early September.

Hoepp said no major paving projects are planned for next year. However, there is a different capital project on the list of priorities for 2023.

“There’s a (retaining) wall on Beaver Street we’ve had trouble with,” Hoepp said. “We’ll probably be looking at that this year. It holds Beaver Street up. We’ve been doing engineering on that for a couple years. It’s a pretty good size project.”

There were no changes to the budget from its preliminary form in November to its final adoption.

Proposed revenues and expenses were listed at about $3.123 million.

Income includes $1.635 million in property taxes, $1.129 million in local enabling taxes, including real estate transfers and business privilege taxes; $92,200 in state shared revenues, $40,100 in licenses and permits, $13,500 in fines and $17,500 in interest earnings.

Expenses include about $877,000 for public safety, including police and fire protection; $497,000 for public works and streets; $231,600 for health and sanitation; $214,000 for executive spending, including administrative salaries and supplies; $594,000 for insurances and benefits; $55,500 for legal services; $40,000 for parks and recreation; $24,800 for tax collection and $15,000 for engineering.

Other projects planned for next year include lining the sanitary sewer line along Church Lane and rehabilitating the small stone bridge on Beaver Road that crosses over Little Sewickley Creek.

There are no major purchases such as new police or public works vehicles allocated in the proposed budget.

A new police car was previously ordered, but it is not expected to be received for several months due to supply chain issues. About $55,000 is in the proposed 2023 budget to cover that purchase.

The budget is available for review at the borough office, 301 Beaver Road.

In other matters

Borough officials plan to evaluate sidewalks in 2023 to ensure safe walkways throughout Edgeworth. This is done every two years.

Councilman Daniel Wilson said there were concerns from residents about trees planted in the borough right-of-ways. Some of their roots are damaging sidewalks, and it is the residents’ responsibility to fix them.

Wilson suggested coming up with some type of compromise in which the borough would contribute to the repairs.

Hoepp said the issue is something for the property committee to address and make a recommendation to council.

“The trees that are between the sidewalk and the curb, that’s borough property and the trees belong to the borough,” he said. “It will be up to council to make a decision (on how to help the residents).”

Council approved its meeting schedule for 2023. Meetings remain at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month at the borough building.