Latrobe holds line on taxes, eyes shared code enforcement officer

Latrobe Council adopted a $6.5 million budget for 2021 that holds the line on real estate taxes.

Though the tax will remain at 21.5 mills, property owners will begin paying a new stormwater management fee.

The fee, assessed at $90 per equivalent dwelling unit, is meant to help cover the city’s costs as it complies with a state directive to reduce sediment flowing into local streams by 10% each year over five years.

Bills for the new fee will be sent in January and are due March 31. The revenue it generates is expected to add as much as $500,000 to the 2021 budget, up from this year’s spending plan.

City Manager Michael Gray praised department managers for keeping a rein on expenses despite the challenges Latrobe has faced while coping with the covid-19 pandemic.

“Everybody has done a great job keeping everything in line this year,” Gray said, adding, “We’ll be very cautious on our expenditures in the first quarter.”

Councilman Jim Kelleypraised Gray and other staffers who worked on the 2021 spending plan. “These are tough times in which to develop a budget,” Kelley said.

“This has been a rough 2020 for everybody,” said Mayor Rosie Wolford. “I don’t think anybody has been untouched by the coronavirus.”

The new budget includes a 2% raise for all non-union city department heads.

Ann Powell has been appointed to oversee the new stormwater program, so Latrobe is looking to hire a new staffer to take over her responsibilities as the city’s code enforcement and zoning officer.

Council authorized Gray to advertise for the position. The city ultimately hopes to share the new enforcement officer with nearby Derry Borough, which has expressed interest in having a local officer instead of continuing to use the services of an outside firm.

“We don’t yet have an agreement (with Derry) finalized,” said Latrobe Solicitor John Greiner. By pushing ahead with accepting applicants, he said, “hopefully, we can begin the interviewing process in conjunction with the agreement being in place with Derry Borough.”

Santa to hitch ride on fire truck

Gray announced that Santa Claus will be riding through town on a Latrobe fire truck during the evening of Dec. 19, distributing holiday treats to children.