Proposed USC Twp. budget keeps tax rates the same
The Upper St. Clair Township commissioners held a public hearing Nov. 4 on the township’s 2014 proposed budget which includes no tax increases.
The $19.9 million general fund budget keeps the real estate tax rate at 3.83 mills and the earned income tax rate at 0.8 percent.
August Stache, finance director for the township, said the budget is overall a 1.29 percent increase over the 2013 budget, which is about half of the current inflation rate, he said.
He said the budget included an estimate of a five percent increase in health insurance rates – the actual rate they have been given for 2014 is a two percent increase, but their rate for dental plan rates increase as well as the number of persons being covered due to family situation changes for some employees.
Stache said the budget includes no rate increase for membership in the township’s Community and Recreation Center, but the township is expecting a 2.5 percent increase in revenues from the C&RC. He said the membership ratio is now 67 percent residents and 33 percent non-residents. When the center first opened, the radio was closer to 80 percent resident and 20 percent non-residents. He pointed out that non-residents pay a higher membership rate.
The commissioners are expected to adopt the budget at their regular meeting on Dec. 2.
The proposed budget is on display at the township office as well as the township’s library. It can also be viewed on the township’s webpage at twpusc.org.