Sewage, refuse rate increases proposed in Cheswick budget

Cheswick taxpayers won’t seen an increase in their property taxes or water rates next year, but they can expect their sewage and garbage collection rates to increase.

The borough is eyeing a $2.7 million budget for 2024. About $1.55 million of that is earmarked for the borough’s general fund, about $575,000 for the water fund, a little more than $474,000 in the sewage fund and just over $165,000 in the garbage collection fund.

The fixed sewage rate for borough customers will increase $9.41 per quarter, from $78.62 to $88.03, or a 12% increase, said Councilman Frank Meledandri Jr. The reason for the rate increase is in order for Cheswick to pay its allocation for a project from the Lower Valley Sewage Authority.

“That should pretty much be stable for the future,” Meledandri said of the rate.

Garbage collection rates will increase $4 per quarter, from $45 to $49. That’s about an 8.9% increase.

The reason for that rate increase, Meledandri said, is to pay off an increase from the borough’s garbage collector, Mars-based Vogel Disposal Service.

Cheswick has built up its reserves over the years to pay for some infrastructure projects, Meledandri said. Those projects contribute to the 2024 budget’s total cost, which is about a $300,000 increase from this year.

“We have a lot of projects,” he said.

The proposal allots $265,000 for a new traffic signal along Pittsburgh Street near Sheetz. The total cost of that project was $365,000, but the borough was awarded a $100,000 grant for the project. Borough Secretary Lorraine Zebrine said the grant funding came from the state’s Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund.

Other projects included in the budget are waterline replacements and street repaving on Pine and Hill avenues.

The Pine Avenue project would cost $189,000, but Cheswick earned a $96,000 grant through a federal Community Development Block Grant, so the borough will pay $93,000. The Hill Avenue project has a $182,000 price tag, but the borough got a $100,000 grant through another state Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund, via the Allegheny Valley North Council of Governments. As a result, Cheswick will pay $82,000.

The budget also allots for projects contingent upon the borough getting awarded other grants. Those projects include waterline replacements on North Highland Avenue and water meter replacements. If the borough doesn’t get that funding, the money allotted for those projects in the budget will go back to the town’s reserve account.

Cheswick will also pay a little more than $260,000 as its share to the Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department.

Another highlight of the budget, Meldandri said, is that the borough is debt-free. He said looking at the budget, Cheswick is in pretty good shape.

“In my 42 years on council, this is the first time we haven’t had debt service,” he said.

Council will consider passing the budget Dec. 12.