Sharpsburg officials hold the line on property taxes in 2024, maintain sewage rates

Sharpsburg officials held the line on real estate taxes for next year.

Council unanimously voted Nov. 16 to pass its 2024 budget and maintain the millage rate at 9.75 mills.

Borough sewer rates also remain the same.

Council approved its preliminary budget last month.

Borough Manager Christine DeRunk said after the Nov. 16 meeting the only changes since then were moving $5,000 in codification to a newsletter and adding $50,000 toward expected legal fees.

Proposed revenues for 2024 are projected to be about $5.4 million, and expenses at about $5.074 million. A surplus of $326,000 is estimated.

Projected income includes about $1.257 million in local real estate taxes, $823,500 in earned income and mercantile taxes, $1 million in intergovernmental revenue and $1.372 million in service charges.

Projected expenses include about $1.016 million for police, $572,000 for garbage collection; $162,000 for code enforcement; $125,000 for fire protection; $125,000 for road repairs; $61,800 for council including salaries, operating supplies, meetings and conferences; and $58,200 for tax collection.

“This year’s budget season was significantly easier than last year,” DeRunk said. “That was a relief. I’m pleased that we have a balanced budget. We did a lot of work this year to keep the budget in check over 2023. We’re in a better financial position this year than last. We didn’t have to cut services.”

Peter Adams, councilman and finance committee co-chair, credited DeRunk and his colleagues coming up with a spending plan that handles inflationary increases without adding to residents’ financial burden.

“We’re really pleased that we were able to hold the line on taxes without reducing services at all,” Adams said. “We can begin to plan for necessary future capital expenditures over the coming years. We’ve really begun solidifying the borough’s finances with this year and looking at next year’s budget. I’m hoping that future councils, under Christine’s guidance, will help sustain that.”

Tax name change

Borough taxes have not changed. However, the name of one will be reluctantly renamed.

Council voted 4-3 to advertise a name change of the 0.5-mill fire tax to an Emergency Services Tax.

Councilwomen Sarah Ishman, Kayla Portis, Councilmen David Breingan and Adams voted in favor of the name change.

President Adrianne Laing, Vice President Karen Pastor and Councilman Jonathan Jaso dissented. Pastor and Jaso are members of the fire department.

Borough Solicitor Matt Kalina said there was no conflict with Pastor and Jaso’s votes because they are volunteers and the motion does not add to anyone’s salary.

Adams is assistant chief of Foxwall EMS. Sharpsburg’s ambulance service provider is O’Hara-based Parkview EMS.

Ishman said renaming the tax would open the possibility of using the money for other emergency services like police and EMS.

“It’s just a procedural issue,” she said. “It’s not some kind of subterfuge.”

Jaso said the name change and potential redistribution of wealth is a slap in the face to the volunteers after the promise made about five years ago when the tax was implemented.

“We made a promise to the fire department that this tax would go to them,” Jaso said. “Once you get too many other people’s hands in the mix, it becomes ugly.”

Sharpsburg and Aspinwall volunteer fire departments merged into Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services (SAVES).

Adams said the tax name change only provides the option for the funds to go to other departments, and does not guarantee it will go to anything but fire protection.

“It’s wording that gives the borough needed operational flexibility as tax bases change, and as SAVES potentially gains additional agencies that wish to collaborate with them,” Adams said. “There is no change whatsoever in how the fire department is being funded in terms of amount.”

DeRunk said the fire tax generates about $58,000, depending on tax collection rates, and $110,000 was budgeted for fire protection. The remaining estimated $52,000 would be pulled from the general fund.

Sharpsburg’s contribution to Parkview EMS is a separate line item in the budget. It is listed at $10,000.

Council plans to finalize the name change Dec. 21.

In other money matters

• Council tabled a request for $500 from the Memorial Day Parade Committee.

Several council members said they wanted more information from the committee before allocating the funds.

• Council approved applying for an estimated $387,000 state Local Share Account Grant for upgrades to Heinz Memorial Park.

Borough matching funds were listed at about $68,300.

Upgrades include installation of a multi-use court, basketball court renovations, a new playground and soft surface, like a rubber or mulch foundation, new tree plantings and other landscaping.

DeRunk said they hope to get a response from the state next fall. The borough match would be part of the 2025 budget, should the grant be approved.