Blawnox officials plan to hold the line on real estate taxes in next year’s budget.
The proposed 2025 spending plan was briefly discussed at a council meeting Oct. 9.
However, no financial figures were released.
“We’ll make the numbers work,” council President Deborah Laskey said about not raising taxes.
The current real estate tax rate is 10.85 mills. Council raised taxes by 1 mill for this year’s budget.
Solicitor Sam Dalfonso said the budget is in draft form and not ready for public review.
A preliminary budget will be presented Nov. 13. After that, it will be advertised and available at the borough office. Its formal adoption is set for Dec. 11.
Borough Manager Kathy Ulanowicz said the budget draft contains no tax hike.
“It’s a pretty basic budget,” she said. “We’re contracted for raises for the public works department. We have to worry about the increase in health care (costs). The police will be in O’Hara Township at that point and we’ll be paying for police services.”
Blawnox and O’Hara officials approved having Blawnox police become township officers starting Jan. 1.
The borough budgeted about $295,000 for police services this year.
Police agreement documents indicate Blawnox will pay O’Hara at least $372,000 for police protection next year.
Ulanowicz said the borough also plans to pave at least one road next year.
This year’s budget of about $1.557 million had no money allocated for paving.
The proposed 2025 budget does not have any money allocated for major purchases.
The borough applied for about $200,000 in state Local Share Account funds to buy new public works equipment and a police vehicle.
Ulanowicz said those capital projects count on the borough getting state or federal grants and are not part of next year’s spending plan.
“There’s only so much money in the borough, and there’s not a whole lot of discretionary funding at this time,” the manager said. “We put in the numbers that we know. And if there’s money left, then we try to do something.”
The borough bought a new public works truck last year with grant money.
In other business
• Blawnox continues its water line inventory efforts.
Questionnaires were sent out to all property owners earlier this year. The borough is requesting assistance in identifying interior plumbing materials.
Ulanowicz said a report is required by the state Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
About 130 out of 720 properties were yet to be tallied as of Oct. 9.
People can schedule a free appointment with the borough office by calling 412-828-4141.
• Volunteers are wanted to serve as auxiliary police. Those people assist with crowd and traffic control during borough events. Applicants must be at least 18 to serve.
More information is available by contacting the borough office.
Michael DiVittorio is a TribLive reporter covering general news in Western Pennsylvania, with a penchant for festivals and food. He can be reached at mdivittorio@triblive.com.