Property owners in Ross will pay more in taxes to the township after commissioners approved a tax increase for the second consecutive year.
While commissioners unanimously approved the township’s $46.7 million 2026 budget on Dec. 15, they voted 7-2 to approve the 8% property tax increase, from 3.7 mills to 4 mills.
It follows a 37% increase, from 2.7 mills to 3.7 mills, for 2025.
Commissioners John Kettering and Joseph Muha voted against the tax increase.
Kettering declined to comment on his vote. Appointed in January to represent Ward 6, he was defeated in the May primary by Haley Warden-Rodgers, who went on to win election to the seat in November.
Muha, who represents the townships 9th Ward, said while he supported the tax increase for 2025, he could not vote yes for another.
“I don’t want to get in the habit of yearly increases,” he said after the commissioners meeting.
For a property at Ross’ median value of $134,600, the 2026 annual township tax bill will be about $538, up about $40 from 2025.
The increase from 2024, when the tax bill was about $363, is $175.
Commissioner Dan DeMarco said he appreciates residents who are frustrated by the increase. He blamed it on forces outside the township’s control, such as rising costs, and said it’s “a sign of our economy.”
“There comes a point where you can’t operate with Band-Aids and a shoestring budget. The reality sets in,” he said.
Resident Walter Meissner, a retired financial manager with budget experience, said Ross residents have enjoyed low township taxes for a long time.
“For years, our taxes have been very low. We’ve had it too easy,” he said. “Now we have to pay the piper.”
Meissner complimented township departments for the jobs they do, citing the road crew’s efforts during the weekend snowfall and the police department.
The parks and recreation department is “tops,” he said.
“There are communities that don’t even have that,” Meissner said.
DeMarco also placed blame on Allegheny County, which he again said needs to conduct a property reassessment.
“We’re struggling with these budget issues because we don’t have a fair assessment of properties in this county,” he said. “This is what happens. The inequality grows and grows and grows — it gets worse.”
Resident Darlene DiDonato also commented on the budget, asking whether there was anything in it the township could do without and for more discussion on “high budget items.”
The township should limit itself to “essential projects,” she said.
“All I’m asking for is transparency,” DiDonato said.
Every Ross official carefully looked at the budget to see where Ross could get along with less, DeMarco said. While some cuts were possible, they were not significant.
“If we do cut, we’re risking a lot of things,” he said. “We’re trying our best. We’re going to continue to deliver the services we have delivered.”
In other business
Ross commissioners again rejected bids for a renovation of the township police department locker room.
The four contracts that were unanimously rejected totaled about $340,700. Money would have come from the 2026 budget.
Commissioners voted down awarding the $239,900 general construction contract to Plavchak Construction, a $14,900 HVAC contract to Scalise Industries, a $64,120 contract for plumbing and fire protection to Newman Plumbing and the $21,765 electrical contract to Independent Mechanical.
The township in August rejected bids for the project, primarily an expansion of the women’s locker room.
While DeMarco said the township would seek bids again, he said the project is not a priority, especially in light of the township facing a $1 million project to repair the municipal building roof.