Sewickley officials pass preliminary budget without public input

Sewickley officials are attempting to hold the line on real estate taxes for another year.

Council unanimously voted Nov. 8 to approve and advertise its preliminary 2023 budget. It maintains the tax rate at 6.25 mills. Projected revenues and expenses were listed at about $9.83 million.

The borough has not raised taxes for at least the past five years.

Elected officials and borough administration refused multiple times Nov. 8 to release budgetary figures to the Tribune-Review. Borough manager Donna Kaib and council president Cynthia Mullins told a Trib reporter that nothing would be released until Nov. 14.

Administration relented Nov. 9 and released the preliminary budget to the Trib after a reporter left messages for Mullins, Kaib and solicitor Nate Boring. It was unclear whether the preliminary budget would be available for public review prior to Nov. 14. (As of press time on Nov. 10, it was not posted on the borough’s website.)

Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, said it should not have taken multiple attempts to obtain a public document and the borough erred when it failed to release the information after the public vote.

“We’re talking about public funds,” she said Nov. 9. “There should be no delay in access. There should be no questions about what’s been approved. We’re talking about how they’re spending your tax dollars. There should be no barriers to access at all.”

Borough officials attempted to withhold the information until the advertisement was released and the clock started on the state-mandated, 30-day public inspection period prior to final adoption in December — municipalities are required to give public notice, or an advertisement of their budgets. This usually includes totals of revenues and expenses and not every line item.

“(The budget) was public when it was approved — and I would argue before it was approved — so that the public could understand what was being voted on and provide public comment before the vote took place,” Melewsky said. “From a purely public policy perspective, there’s no reason to withhold it. They are simply creating a barrier to access, and that’s completely inappropriate when we’re talking about public funds.”

Multiple calls and emails the day after the meeting asking borough officials why the budget was withheld went unreturned as of Nov. 9.

The budget includes about $3.1 million in property taxes, $2.04 million in Act 511 taxes such as earned income, $625,000 in parking/highways/streets including meter and parking fines, $430,000 in state capital and operating grants, and $76,350 in business licenses and fines.

Expenses include about $2.28 million for public protection/police, $1.38 million for public works, $594,000 for executive spending including administrative salaries and benefits, $460,000 for fire protection, $143,000 for solicitor fees, $100,000 for engineering, $50,800 for tax collection, $43,000 for code enforcement.

The final budget is expected to be adopted at council’s Dec. 13 meeting.

The 2022 budget was adopted last December with revenues listed at about $9.064 million and expenses at $8.356 million. That’s a surplus of about $708,000.

Police Chief Dave Mazza said he plans to hire a full-time officer in June and a part-time secretary at some point in 2023.

The borough currently has 11 full-time officers, including Mazza, and 17 part-timers.

Council did not comment on the budget during the meeting. However, several elected leaders spoke afterward about the proposed spending plan.

Councilman Brian Bozzo commended Kaib’s thoroughness and comprehensive budget planning.

“It’s way more clear,” Bozzo said about the budget.

The borough had a four-hour budget meeting Nov. 5.

Councilman Tom Rostek and vice president Julie Barnes said consistent good stewardship over taxpayer funds has been a major factor in avoiding a tax increase and still providing all services.

“I also think our tax base is growing considering there is not a whole lot of developable land,” Rostek said.

Other business

Barnes announced borough lights would be turned on Nov. 18, a few weeks prior to Sewickley’s Light Up Night, Dec. 2.

She said it would benefit those in town for the Thanksgiving holiday to illuminate the town this month, and to showcase the donated materials from Pittsburgh Socialights.

“We just want to extend the light season,” Barnes said.

The Light Up Night celebration is still expected to go on as planned from 5-9 p.m.

Sewickley leaf collection has resumed after a week hiatus.

Kaib said the leaf vac was down for repairs for about a week for repairs. Service was restored Nov. 7.