Oakmont officials discuss next year's budget; trying for no tax increase

Oakmont officials hope to hold the line on real estate taxes in next year’s spending plan.

Council had its first 2021 budget meeting Monday night at the borough building.

Discussions focused on the general fund with expenses and revenues estimated at $4.8 million, about $100,000 less compared to the current budget. Council did not take any action at the meeting.

“It’s still a draft,” said Nancy Ride, councilwoman and finance committee chair. “At this point, we’re really not ready to make a final statement on (taxes). Our goal is to make sure that we are providing the best services we can. We hope to not raise taxes.”

Borough Manager Scot Fodi said they are conservative projections.

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

Police Chief Michael Ford said they plan to reduce part-time shifts and hire another full-time officer to cover that time.

The department currently has seven full-timers, including Ford, and seven part-time officers.

A majority at the meeting appeared to support the chief’s plan, especially since it has been difficult in recent years to keep some of the officers.

“The good officers who are part-timers are typically getting picked up by other entities on a full-time basis,” said Fodi. The manager said training and other equipment purchases also are part of projected police spending.

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

They would be installed, if approved, atop the scoreboard, by the Second Street parking lot and in the lower section of the park by the pavilions.

Ford said the proposed camera purchases were because the borough’s security system was upgraded about two years ago and can handle more cameras, and are not in response to any incidents in the park.

Borough officials also discussed purchasing a new police vehicle to replace a 2014 Ford Taurus. That move could be made toward the end of the year to postpone spending until 2022.

A new desktop for office staff and a new laptop to help support virtual meetings during the covid-19 pandemic were among borough building spending ideas.

Ride said the pandemic has impacted borough finances, but only slightly due to very a conservative response during the first quarter of the year as well as tax collection being better than expected under the circumstances.

“We have not run into any major problems on our revenues, and we have been very careful on our spending,” Ride said. “There are things that we have postponed that were not essential until we saw how the year went by.”

Fodi said some of those discretionary projects included interior painting at the library and a study on how to rehabilitate the Plum Creek pump station.

About $305,000 was earmarked for paving next year. However, no brick rehabilitation for Allegheny River Boulevard is planned.

Fodi said there may be spot repairs, but businesses should not be worried about construction along stretches of the main thoroughfare.

Oakmont plans to replace 15 street lights along the boulevard with LED lights at a cost of $109 for each lights.

Fodi said the lights will save the borough on energy costs over time.

The next budget meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at council chambers.