Property taxes aren’t going up in Tarentum in this year despite nearly $1 million in increased spending.

Council approved the borough’s $3.58 million 2019 general fund budget. That’s up about 32 percent from the $2.71 million 2018 general fund budget.

The property tax rate remains at 5.48 mills.

The owner of a property at the median value of $40,100 would continue to pay about $220 in borough property taxes.

About 27 percent of the general fund’s revenue, about $975,000, is coming in a transfer from the borough’s electric fund. The borough operates its own electric distribution system and is able to transfer money from it to the general fund.

Residential electric rates were increased by less than a penny-per-kilowatt hour, from 11.34 cents to 12 cents, a nearly 6 percent increase.

The borough has entered into a two-year electric supply agreement with PSEG, which required a $750,000 security deposit. The borough is borrowing $350,000 to pay it.

The budget includes about $866,000 in increased spending. But of that, more than half, $481,000, is covered by grants.

The biggest increases are seen for increases in the borough’s street department, $125,000, and the police department, $120,000. That includes pay increases and increases in health insurance costs, borough Manager Michael Nestico said.

The borough is also spending $100,000 more for building demolitions, and $70,000 more in its property code enforcement department.

Other increases are about $20,000 for salt and deicing materials, $11,000 in manager and office increases, and $4,500 for traffic signs.

Costs are down in other areas, totaling $66,000. It consists of $27,000 less in sewer expenses, $17,000 less in medical deductible reimbursements, $12,000 less in solid waste collection costs and $10,000 less in crossing guard wages.

Brian Rittmeyer is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Brian at 724-226-4701, brittmeyer@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BCRittmeyer.

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