Property tax in Lower Burrell holds; rate increases to be considered next month

Lower Burrell property owners will not see an increase in their real estate taxes next year but could pay more for sewage and recycling.

Council approved the city’s budget for next year, which totals just more than $12 million.

A home at Lower Burrell’s median assessed value of $20,389 would continue to pay $504 annually for city property taxes.

In the budget, there is just under $8 million in the general fund, $3.8 million in the sewer fund and just under $523,000 in liquid fuels money.

$259,000 is budgeted for a summer road project. Streets to be paved haven’t yet been announced by the city.

The budget has a $105,000 contractual obligation to the city’s volunteer fire departments and $95,000 in additional fire department support with natural gas royalty money. The budget also keeps its $88,000 allocation for EMS.

Projects planned in the budget include storm pipelining on Oakridge and Sylvan drives; liner replacement, inlets and storm pipelining on Rodgers Drive; inlet installation and storm pipelining on Wayne Street; liner, storm pipelining and an access box on Valleyview Drive; and a stormwater line replacement on Carl Avenue.

“During a time when costs seem to rise everywhere, I’m proud Lower Burrell is able to hold the line without sacrificing the quality of what we provide,” said Mayor Chris Fabry. “This didn’t happen by accident. Council, department heads and staff worked together to find solutions to make this possible.”

Proposed rate increases

City Manager Greg Primm said council will consider raising the city’s sewage rate by 5% at its meeting Jan. 5. The fee for recycling also could increase.

Both increases would take place in 2026 and be retroactive to Jan. 1, Primm said.

Lower Burrell is considering the sewage hike because of an increase from the Municipal Sanitary Authority of the City of New Kensington. Lower Burrell officials say they have to pass through the increase to ratepayers to fund regional wastewater treatment and compliance obligations outside the city’s direct control.

For an average household, based on 10,000 gallons per quarter usage, bills would go from about $162 per quarter to $175. An average monthly increase would go from $55 to $59.

The recycling fee increase is also slated to pass-through to residents. The city’s contract with Waste Management calls for an increase every year per residential unit charged to the city.

Currently, the residential rate being charged is $5.33 per unit month, or $16 per quarter. Rates are proposed to increase to $6 per unit per month, or $18 per quarter, to meet next year’s contract obligation.