Indiana Township officials hold the line on taxes in 2023

Indiana Township property owners will not have to pay more in real estate taxes this year as part of the town’s budget.

Supervisors unanimously voted last month to approve the 2023 spending plan and hold the line on taxes at 3.47 mills, of which 2.99 mills is designated for the township and 0.48-mill goes to the fire departments.

Township Manager Dan Anderson said the administration and elected officials worked diligently to manage spending with costs going up due to inflation.

“The goal of the 2023 budget is to operate within the financial means of the community while maintaining essential levels of service and investing in infrastructure, which will enable the township government to meet the service needs of the future,” Anderson said in his budget message. “The budget provides a big picture perspective and expresses priorities and directs the financial support needed to accomplish our goals.”

There has not been a tax increase in at least seven years.

Some of the reasons the township was able to stave off a tax hike this time was due to an increase in revenue through new home development, and refinancing of bonds a few years ago.

Supervisors in 2020 refinanced a series of 2015 bonds that generated more than $1.4 million in savings. It also affirmed its A+ rating by S&P Global Ratings, a division of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC.

The township has built enough cash reserves the past few years that it does not need to seek a tax anticipation note, which is a short-term loan municipalities and school districts sometimes take out to ensure bills are paid until tax money starts coming in.

“We feel very fortunate,” Anderson said.

Projected revenues and expenses were listed at about $5.873 million.

Income includes $2.606 million in property taxes, $2 million in Act 511 taxes such as earned income and real estate transfer taxes, $405,000 in general government and public safety such as new development transportation impact and environmental fees, $264,000 in state shared revenue, $180,000 in federal and state grants and rents and royalties, $42,500 in recreational fees and $35,000 in health insurance reimbursements.

Spending includes $1.63 million for police, $1.33 million for highway maintenance and road infrastructure; $521,200 for administration including staff salaries, engineering and legal services; $410,550 for fire protection; $198,000 for code enforcement; $64,300 for tax collection; $64,000 for planning and zoning and emergency management; $52,400 for parks and recreation and $12,000 for the Cooper-Siegel Community Library.

Anderson said paving increased from about $406,000 last year to $500,000 largely due to spikes in material costs.

Mayor Darrin Krally commended Anderson and finance director Ann Moss for their efforts. Former finance director Candy Wygonik also assisted.

“Our number one goal is to make our township a banner community year after year,” Krally said. “We do have continued success with this budget, and all previous budgets that I’ve been involved with for 17 years. We got one of the lowest tax rates in Allegheny County, and we continue to either meet or exceed service expectations from year over year.

“We’ve got a great track record. … We have a great team. Dan and Ann are the leaders of that team.”

The budget is available for review at the township office, 3710 Saxonburg Blvd.