Sewickley officials plan to hold the line on real estate taxes as part of next year’s budget.
Council unanimously voted Nov. 12 to advertise the 2025 spending plan, which maintains the millage rate at 6.25 mills.
The borough has not raised taxes for at least the past seven years.
Proposed revenues and expenses were listed at about $10.76 million.
Projected income includes about $3.238 million in real estate taxes, $2.17 million in Act 511 taxes, including earned income and business privilege taxes; $1.181 in state funds, $592,000 in parking fines and revenues, $129,650 in charges for service, $76,500 in interest earnings, $76,400 in business licenses and fines, $40,200 in rents and royalties and $17,000 in fines and forfeits.
Projected spending includes $2.28 million for police protection, $561,500 for government executive expenses, including administrative salaries and benefits; $362,900 for municipal building upkeep, $316,000 for fire protection, $177,000 for engineering services, $168,000 for solicitor services, $63,800 for tax collection, $46,900 for EMS, $31,250 for code enforcement and $26,900 for auditing.
There are no cuts to programs or services.
Borough manager Donna Kaib said the borough allocated $700,000 for paving next year — a $100,000 boost from this year’s paving budget of $600,000.
Council president Cynthia Mullins said the increase is partly due to inflationary concerns as well as addressing non-asphalt roads.
“We have a robust paving program and we’re also looking for an opportunity to do some brick repairs,” Mullins said.
It was unclear how many roads would be repaired. A list of roads to be considered has not yet been finalized.
About $250,000 is allocated for sidewalks and crosswalks including funds for an engineering study in some of the borough’s busiest areas.
Mullins said council wants to take a close look at the Village overlay and the Sewickley Valley YMCA with an eye on pedestrian safety.
“We have been focusing on pedestrian safety for the last couple of years,” she said. “This is just the next step. When people think of Sewickley, they think of a pleasant place to walk around.”
About $400,000 was also earmarked for park maintenance and new equipment.
Councilman Tom Rostek said plans include playground equipment replacement at Maple Lane Park.
“The climber there has bare wood with splinters and wood bees that have been living in it,” Rostek said. “We will replace it with a new climber. We are also planning to redo our tennis courts/basketball court in the Chadwick Street Park. It will be replaced with a new basketball court, a new tennis court and a set of pickleball courts. A large portion of this project is funded through a state grant, which we secured earlier in the year.”
Any additional funds would be used to improve War Memorial Park.
“We are looking to improve the play surface, which is wearing out after nearly 20 years of use,” Rostek said. “We will also replace parts on the existing playground equipment that have worn out. Several items have a modular design so we are looking to freshen them up with new modules.”
Capital purchases include a new LeafVac system and street sweeper for the public works department.
Council also budgeted about $10,000 for the borough’s website redesign.
Mullins said residents have had trouble finding documents and other information on its current format.
“It’s just a little bit of a maze and we’re hoping to make it much easier to navigate,” she said.
Council plans to formally pass the budget Dec. 10.
In other business
Council on Nov. 12 approved a certificate of appropriateness for 340 Walnut Street for the construction of a new side yard fence and gate tied into the existing fence.
Certificates are necessary for facade changes to properties in the borough’s historic districts.
Councilman Todd Hamer announced an initiative to promote bicycle safety in the borough.
He said cycling awareness is lacking in the borough and hopes to bring in BikePGH to help create a program to educate riders and drivers on their legal responsibilities and make the streets safe for both means of transportation.
More details are expected to be released in the coming weeks.