North Huntingdon taps fund balance to hold line on taxes for 2021

Property owners in North Huntingdon will not have to pay more real estate taxes in 2021 under a tentative budget that takes $1.14 million from the fund balance to cover a projected deficit.

The commissioners voted Wednesday to adopt a proposed $14.17 million general fund budget that maintains real estate taxes at 11.55 mills. Commissioner Jason Atwood, who cast the only opposing vote, said he believed more effort should be made to balance the budget without tapping into the fund balance.

The final budget is scheduled for a vote on Dec. 16.

Of the 11.55-mill tax levy, the revenue generated by 9.23 mills will be allocated for the general fund. One mill, which gives the local government $395,634, is earmarked for capital improvements and money collected from 1.32 mills is allocated to the township’s fire services.

The general fund budget is close to $540,000 less than the 2020 approved budget. Silka said, under the proposed budget, administrators and non-union personnel will have their wages frozen for 2021.

To avoid raising taxes by 2.9 mills, $1.14 million from the fund balance will be used. There is no way to avoid cutting costs without reducing services, Silka said in a budget presentation. But, the fund balance will not have sufficient money in 2022 to supplement the general fund deficit for the first quarter of the year, without obtaining a tax anticipation loan.

Once again, the cost-cutting measures turned to a discussion of eliminating the township’s emergency dispatching center that handles police and EMS calls, and turning over those duties to the Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety, which would save the township about $413,000. Two dispatch/secretary positions would be needed to handle administrative duties and transition would take a few months, so the move would save about $300,000 next year, according to a budget presentation.

Commissioner Zachary Haigis pointed out he favored cutting the local dispatching services in favor of Westmoreland County at no local cost to save money, not because there is a problem with the service.

“The work they do is excellent,” Haigis said, but “it’s hard to pay for something twice.”

Commissioner Brian Blasko said he was willing to discuss the issue, because there is a duplication of service.

Commissioner Ronald Zona, a retired state police trooper, said he favored maintaining the local dispatching center.

Atwood said he met with the police and dispatchers and learned they provide a valuable service and perform 122 duties, including watching prisoners who are being detained.

“The level of service can’t be measured in dollars,” Atwood said, and cutting it, “would be a tremendous disservice to our residents.”