Sewickley Hills holds the line on taxes for 2023, garbage fees to increase

Sewickley Hills property owners will not have to pay more in real estate taxes in 2023.

Council approved the borough budget Dec. 13.

The millage rate remains at 2.84 mills.

Borough Secretary Diana Steele said she was not allowed to comment on the budget, and all statements would have to come from council President Joe Hajnas.

Attempts to reach Hajnas and other council members were not successful.

Projected revenues and expenses were listed at about $608,400.

Income includes about $518,000 in taxes, including $212,000 in earned income taxes; $37,000 in miscellaneous revenue, including building permits and facility rentals; $25,000 in state revenue; $12,700 from licenses and permits; and $2,800 in interest, rents and royalties.

Spending includes about $105,000 for police; $101,000 for public works; $86,200 for general government administration, including supplies and building maintenance; $59,300 for fire protection; $31,800 for community development; $17,600 for engineering; $16,700 for tax collection; $12,000 for auditing and bookkeeping; and $11,000 for legal services.

The budget is available for review on the borough website, sewickleyhills.com.

Council also approved a new garbage contract with Valley Waste. It’s for three years, with an additional two-year option. The vote was 4-0-1 on Oct. 11.

Council vice president Michael Lepore abstained, according to meeting minutes. There was no explanation for his abstention included in the minutes.

Valley Waste has worked in the borough since 2014 and was the only company to bid for a new contract, according to information obtained by the Tribune-Review via a Right-to-Know request.

Rates will increase from $20.02 to $37.77 per month, according to the contract.

Rates could have hiked more than double to $40.36 per month had council chosen to approve a new deal with weekly recycling. The lesser rate included bi-weekly recycling.

The company serves about 250 households, according to the contract.

The previous agreement included weekly recycling. It was set to expire at the end of 2022.

Council approved advertising for garbage collection services Aug. 9. There was a discussion about the rates on Oct. 11 and at the council workshop meeting Oct. 25.

Workshop meeting minutes stated the garbage rate could be reduced by 85 cents per month for each customer if the borough were sent one bill for all residents, and the borough would be responsible for billing residents for the trash removal.

Council informally agreed to have the borough subsidize the trash bill for residents via a $10 per month rebate for 2023.

Council voted Nov. 9 to send out letters informing residents served by Valley Waste of the rate increase and borough subsidy.

It was unclear if that rebate would be available throughout the contract.

Messages to Valley Waste on Dec. 22 were not immediately returned.