Delmont Council proposes 2-mill tax hike, pursues $1M road work grant

Delmont officials are proposing a 2024 budget that will raise property taxes for the first time in more than a decade.

Council voted 6-1 to advertise the $1.67 million budget, which calls for a 2-mill tax increase.

Councilman Stan Cheyne voted no. A final vote on the 2024 budget will take place at council’s December meeting, or at a special meeting near the end of the year.

If adopted as proposed, the tax hike would raise the borough’s property rate to 20 mills.

“This council and previous councils have worked very hard for the last 12 years within the means of the borough, to not raise taxes,” Cheyne said. “However, this year when looking at the revenue and expenses, and our plans to continue to improve upon the services offered to borough residents, we found that it was necessary for future stability to raise the borough portion of property taxes.”

In addition, council members voted unanimously to apply for a $1 million grant for road work. The grants are part of state’s Local Share Account, created through gaming revenue in counties where casinos and betting parlors are situated.

“The road out on Greensburg Street has been bad for a while,” Cheyne said. “Greensburg Street would just be resurfacing, and Freeport Street would be widened and resurfaced. There are also stormwater upgrades included for the project and (extending the) sidewalk along Freeport Street to Route 66.”

If the borough is awarded the grant, it would require a match of about $128,000, Cheyne said. The grant application period runs through Nov. 30, and projects must “improve the quality of life in the impacted community,” according to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

A portion of Freeport Street crosses over into Murrysville, and Cheyne said that while he hopes to work with Murrysville officials on the grant, “the costs came in late and I wanted council to have a say on the exact scope of the project, which all takes time and we’re up against an end of November date for the application.”

Traffic study

In response to resident concerns about speeding, council voted 5-2 to undertake a traffic study on several sections of borough roads, with the goal of eventually installing measures to calm or slow traffic. Those can include signage, speed humps and other measures, but the study must take place first.

Cheyne said the study would focus on three stretches of road: Manor Road between Route 66 and Abbe Place; Stotler Road near the Mutual Aid ambulance building; and East Pittsburgh Street near its intersection with Monticello Drive.

The study will cost $7,500. Council President Andrew Shissler and Councilwoman Becky Matesevac voted no.