Glen Osborne officials seek to maintain real estate tax rate in 2026 budget

Glen Osborne officials plan to hold the line on real estate taxes in 2026.

Council recently authorized advertising next year’s proposed spending plan, which maintains the tax rate at 4.9 mills.

It would be the fifth consecutive year without a tax hike if the budget is passed as-is on Dec. 16.

There are no cuts to programs or services.

The last time real estate taxes were changed was a decrease from 5.2 mills to 4.9 mills in 2022.

Proposed revenues and expenses totaled approximately $751,000.

Projected income includes close to $410,000 in real estate taxes, including delinquent and transfer taxes, $247,000 in earned income taxes, $15,000 in interest, $18,000 in Regional Asset Tax distribution, $9,500 in building permits, $7,000 from cable TV franchise fees and $4,000 in crossing guard reimbursements.

Projected spending includes close to $326,000 for public works; a little more than $200,000 for public safety, including police services, crossing guards and emergency management; $193,000 for administration including salaries, office supplies, insurances and tax collection; $124,000 for sanitation; $31,000 for public service, including beautification projects and website maintenance, and $29,500 for snow removal.

“We are very frugal and we watch our expenses closely,” Borough Secretary/Treasurer Diane Vierling said on Dec. 3.

Council President John Orndorff said he doesn’t anticipate any major changes to the budget this month.

“I anticipate borough council passing the budget when we meet,” he said. “Our big expenditures are going to be continuing work on upgrading our storm sewer inlets and realigning a sewer pipe on Center Street across the tracks from the boulevard.

“We’re looking at getting a grant to rebuild a stone wall at the base of Sycamore (Road).”

The wall is located by a sharp bend near the intersection of Sycamore Road and Beaver Street. The estimated replacement cost is about $300,000.

“The wall is still functional,” Orndorff said. “It’s doing its job, but it’s starting to decay. There are stones that are falling out, and we can see that it’s starting to lean. We know that its days are numbered, so we’re trying to get ahead of the curve and plan for that.”

Sewer line repairs are also part of next year’s infrastructure plans.

Leaf collection is expected to return by popular demand. The borough launched a pilot program with its new public works contractor, Brian’s Property Maintenance.

“We’ve not done that for our residents before, and that was something people wanted for years,” Vierling said. “It’s going well. It’s been very popular.”

Council in November approved a new five-year contract with the Sewickley Police Department. Cost is $121,500 each year with no increase.

Vierling said having steady police protection at a locked-in price makes budgeting a lot easier.

Trash talk

The current garbage collection contract with Waste Management is set to expire at the end of next year.

Borough officials plan to work with the Quaker Valley Council of Governments to ensure they are getting the best price for trash hauling.

Waste Management has collected Glen Osborne garbage for about 20 years.

The company provides household hazardous waste pickup, including fluorescent lights, old computers, printers and other electronic waste and household chemicals, in addition to recycling and its weekly garbage collections.

Orndorff said the borough anticipates an increased cost to those services starting in 2027.