Oakmont council holds line on real estate taxes, borough fees in 2021 budget

Oakmont officials held the line on real estate taxes and borough fees in their 2021 budget.

Next year’s spending plan was approved via a 6-0 vote Monday night.

Councilwoman Sophia Facaros was absent. Several council members participated virtually to help with social distancing and covid safety protocols.

It’s been about four years since council raised taxes to the current 3.73-mill rate.

Budget planning began in early September. There were multiple budget meetings in addition to financial discussions at council workshops and voting sessions.

Borough Manager Scot Fodi said he was glad to see the budget pass, and believes Oakmont will be able to provide all services and complete multiple projects within the confines of the spending plan.

“A budget is the guide,” Fodi said. “We’ll use it as our guide. I’m hoping to start a capital budget process next year for council to consider for future construction projects.

“Communities of our size and our ilk should be doing capital budgets in addition to its annual general fund budget. It helps with planning. It helps establish legacy decisions for council to make, and establishes expectations for residents to see in the years to come.”

Projected 2021 revenues were listed at about $4.4 million and expenses at $4.6 million with the gap to be closed with money from the borough’s estimated $400,000 cash reserves.

Borough Manager Scot Fodi said expenses were marked more than the general fund due to several storm water management projects that were not completed this year.

Proposed spending includes $350,000 for paving, $10,000 for a street sweeper, $290,000 for the Oakmont Carnegie Library, replacement of 15 street lights along the boulevard with LED lights at a cost of $109 for each light and $278,000 for parks and recreation.

Projected park projects include removal of eight trees in Dark Hollow Woods, repair of fencing and baseball mounds, and installation of two charcoal grills at Riverside Park as well as upgrades to the walking trails at Creekside Park and Dark Hollow.

About $1.6 million of the proposed budget is allocated for the police department.

Borough officials plan to reduce part-time shifts and hire another full-time officer to cover that time.

The department has seven full-time members, including Chief Michael Ford, and seven part-time officers.

Four new security cameras for Riverside Park, adjacent to Riverview High School, are in the police section of the budget.

No brick rehabilitation for Allegheny River Boulevard is planned for next year.

Councilwoman Nancy Ride said $15,000 was allocated for possible emergency siren repair or replacement.

The borough has three sirens. The one in question is near Tenth Street Elementary School. It has caused problems for multiple residents in the past few years.

Fire department officials maintain it is a necessary tool for alerting volunteers and residents about possible emergencies.

Ride also said the borough did not run into any major problems with revenues and expenses this year thanks to $125,000 in income through the CARES Act, which help offset costs incurred due to the covid pandemic.

The budget is available for review on the borough’s website.

The online information also includes information on proposed projects for the Oakmont Carnegie Library, Kerr Museum and Oakmont Boulevard Project.

Fodi said he anticipates starting financial planning for 2022 a little earlier next year and hopes to present a budget by November.

“We’re getting very good at forecasting, and we can figure out the last month of the year as opposed to the last week of the year,” Fodi said.