East Deer Commissioners pass 2023 budget with no tax hike, have enough left over from '22 to avoid loan

The East Deer Commissioners gave the township’s 2023 budget final approval Friday while officially closing the books on 2022.

The real estate tax will remain at 4.9 mills to help fund East Deer’s $1.3 million budget.

The only real change from the budget’s preliminary approval Dec. 1 was the $430,000 carryover into the new year, down from the original figure of $449,000. The carryover means East Deer won’t have to take out a tax anticipation loan.

The budget will be 12.5% less than 2022, mainly because of grants being spent and the reduction of police costs.

The township’s share for its first full year of membership in the Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department will be $229,000.

Some of the projects planned for 2023 include:

• a new waterline for Grant Street;

• demolition of three dilapidated buildings;

• Meadow Street reconstruction;

• a sewage separation project on Bellview Street;

• landscape remediation and a stormwater sewer for Crystal View Drive;

• money for the Greenway Trails and Recreation project.

The projects will be paid for from grants by the PA Small Water and Sewer Fund, along with Allegheny County’s Gaming and Economic Development Fund. The township will pay its share from its general fund.

East Deer’s water fund will see a $218,000 balance, and the state liquid fuels reimbursement fund $121,000.

The new Pittsburgh Brewing Co. location in East Deer will have a higher assessment after the complex is completed, officials said. But the purchase of water from the brewer already has strengthened the township’s water fund.

The township has budgeted $180,000 for street maintenance.

New appointment

The commissioners reappointed George Polarnakis to another five-year term as a representative on the Upper Allegheny Joint Sanitary Authority board.