Sewickley Council Adopts Final Budget With No Tax Increase

 unanimously adopted a $4.8 million budget without a tax increase for 2012.

The formal approval Monday night keeps the borough’s total property tax rate at 7.3 mills. This means the owner of a property assessed at $100,000 next year will pay $730 in real estate taxes—the same amount paid in 2011.

Council tentatively approved the on Oct. 22.

Public safety makes up the largest portion of the budget, with police department expenses set at $1.466 million. That amount includes the cost of an additional full-time police officer the borough plans to hire in time to begin working in January. Sewickley has received 25 applications for the position.

“Funding the police department…it’s the largest commitment that the board does,” said Councilman Stan Ference. “The road department is the second-largest commitment.”

Funding for has increased from previous years, with $910,915 set aside for the 2012 improvement projects. Roads lined up for improvements next year include Nevin Avenue and Beaver, Walnut and Chadwick streets.

“Infrastructure of roads, catch basins and storm sewers are at a critical stage,” Borough Manager Kevin Flannery said in his budget address. “It is believed that it is not in the best interest of the borough to take a sit-back position and basically wait and see what happens.”

The budget also projects $190,000 in revenues from parking meters. That revenue projection is $30,000 less than last year, but projected collections for 2011 were $89,550 short as of Sept. 30.

Resident Terry Brennan of Chadwick Street told council he doesn’t agree with that approach.

“I really don’t think that the borough should count so much on parking revenue. I think that they should count on people that run the stop signs, who make the [illegal left turn] at Walnut and Locust Street, people who park where it says 'no SUV and van parking,' ” Brennan said.

Mayor Brian Jeffe said the parking revenue is driven through meter maid patrols, rather than from police officers pulling over drivers.

Council members also said Sewickley is relying less on parking revenue. Ference sad the borough essentially took a financial hit by eliminating Saturday meter enforcement. He said enforcement during the week helps keep vehicles from blocking spaces for merchants. 

“By eliminating Saturday meters, I think we are doing our best to eliminate parking as a means to balance,” said council President Robert Hague.