No tax hike or fee increases in Jefferson Hills 2023 preliminary budget

Jefferson Hills property owners should not expect to pay more in real estate taxes as part of next year’s borough budget.

Council unanimously voted Nov. 14 to approve and advertise its 2023 preliminary budget.

It maintains the millage rate at 5.66 mills. Council has not raised taxes in about a decade.

Fees for garbage collection and sewage also are projected to stay the same.

Dave Montgomery, councilman and finance committee chairman, credited financial analysis and new development as main reasons the borough is able to offer services and pay higher bills because of inflation without passing additional burdens onto taxpayers.

“We watch the budget all the time,” Montgomery said. “If things get too expensive, we don’t spend the money (on it). All the major needs are being met. You watch what you spend, and the borough is growing. That does help a lot.”

An example of that was the removal of new HVAC controls at the borough building.

Finance director Jon Drager said the system still works, and upgrades would have to wait at least another year.

The numbers

Projected revenue and expenses were listed at about $17.613 million.

Income includes about $5.32 million in real estate taxes, $2.26 in earned income taxes, $961,000 in charges for service, $512,500 in intergovernmental monies, $365,000 in real estate transfers, $360,500 in licenses and permits, $202,500 in local services tax, $100,000 in interest earnings, and $84,000 in fines and forfeits.

About $509,000 that was budgeted for this year is expected to roll over into 2023.

Drager said that money was not spent because of supply chain issues causing delays in several projects. Projects include a pickleball court at Lobb’s Park, batting cages at Andrew Reilly Memorial Park and a new public works dump truck.

Expenses include about $4 million for the police department, $2.36 million for capital expenditures, $1.5 million for public works, $1.064 million for administration, $930,000 for recycling and garbage, $444,000 for insurances, $250,000 for the borough building, $150,750 for debt service, $80,400 for recreation, $79,000 for tax collection and $35,000 for community events.

The highlights

Paving was increased from $575,000 this year to $650,000 in next year’s budget.

The borough also allocated $100,000 for patch work and small road repairs.

Officials expect to repair seven roads next year. The increased spending is largely because of an increase in materials and related costs.

“It’s a high priority,” Drager said. “In the 1980s, we got behind (on paving). You really have to maintain the paving program.”

The borough’s contribution to Jefferson Hills Public Library also went up, from $209,000 to $250,000.

Drager said the boost will help the library add programs and bolster offerings.

“They’re a big part (of this community),” he said. “A lot of people are still using the library. We want to support them.”

The borough budgeted $55,000 for its eight-week summer youth program, an increase from this year’s $47,000 budget. Drager said 200 children ages 5 to 12 participated.

Three new police officers were hired this year. There are no new hires planned for next year.

The budget includes a projected 6% increase in health care costs.

Drager said the borough could save about $400,000 or more if that estimated hike is cut in half.

Budget availability

The preliminary budget was not made available to the public at the borough office until Nov. 28 — two weeks after council approved it.

Montgomery said council did not instruct administration keep it inhouse for that length of time and stressed the borough was following the law.

Solicitor Deron Gabriel said according to the Borough Code, the final budget must be made available for public inspection 10 days prior to final passage, and such availability must be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation accordingly at least 10 days prior to passage.

“The borough will comply with this requirement,” he said via email.

The Tribune-Review filed a Right-to-Know request on Nov. 23 in an effort to obtain the preliminary budget earlier and argued it should have been made public shortly after the vote.

The RTK was still under review Nov. 29, when a reporter stopped by the administrative offices and reviewed the proposed budget. The request was withdrawn by the Trib later that evening.

Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, said the borough did not have to wait so long to release its financial plans.

“The (Right-to-Know Law) makes the preliminary budget public when it’s presented for deliberation at a public meeting, although the law allows it to be provided sooner,” she said via email. “In addition to the requirements of the RTKL, the Borough Code affirmatively requires the borough to provide access no later than 10 days prior to passage, and again, the law allows it to be made available before that time. The 10 days is the bare minimum time requirement imposed by law; agencies can provide access sooner.”

Drager said there were minor adjustments to the budget since the November meeting. He also cited continuous adjustments as the reason the budget is not posted online via the borough website prior to formal adoption. Final budgets and audit reports are available at jeffersonhillsboro.org.

Next year’s final budget is expected to be adopted at the Dec. 12 meeting.