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USC proposes $22 million budget with no tax increase

By Terry Kish for The Almanac aanews@thealmanac.Net 2 min read
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Upper St. Clair’s $22 million general fund budget will hold the real estate tax rate at 3.83 mills and the earned income tax rate to 0.8% , finance director Mark Romito said of the township’s 2020 proposed budget at the Nov. 4 USC commissioners’ meeting.

Romito said that 98 of the 130 municipalities in Allegheny County have a higher millage rate than Upper St. Clair, and that the average millage rate in Allegheny County was 6.17 mills. Upper St. Clair has not raised the real estate tax since 2010, and the earned income tax rate has not increased since 2007.

Real estate and earned income taxes make up almost 80% of revenue in the proposed general fund budget. Romito said operating revenue is up 2.17% from the 2019 budget.

Operating expenditures increased 4.93% from the 2019 budget, with public safety and public works making up approximately 65% of the township’s expenses. Some of the factors lending to this change in operating expenditures include the Minimum Municipal Obligation (MMO) for the police defined benefit pension plan, which increased by approximately $98,000, to $386,944. The MMO for the public works defined benefit pension plan increased by about $34,000, to $189,463, and rock salt costs increased 16%, resulting in a $100,000 increase to the budget.

Sanitary sewer expenditures include $1.625 million for source reduction work and $4.3 million for wastewater treatment. Romito said that ALCOSAN rates will be increasing 7%, but the township multiplier will remain at 2.0 for 2020.

Also included in the 2020 proposed budget are capital projects, including $1.8 million for the street and roadway program, $500,00 for storm sewers, and $740,000 for traffic signal improvements on Route 19 in conjunction with PennDOT. A $3,500,000 expenditure for a potential municipal building renovation project, which would be funded by a matching amount of bond proceeds, is also included in the capital projects fund.

The board is expected to vote on the 2020 final budget at the Dec. 2 regular meeting. The budget will be on display at the township office, library, and online at www.twpusc.org.

In other business, the board voted to approve the Ardolino Development Plan. The nonresidential planned development near Boyce Road calls for a new restaurant and additional parking behind Sage Organic Spa.

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