Aspinwall holds the line on real estate taxes next year; councilman resigns because he's moving

An Aspinwall councilman resigned shortly after he and his colleagues approved the 2023 budget with no real estate tax increase.

Next year’s spending plan was approved via 6-0 vote on Dec. 14. Councilwoman Mary Hancock was absent.

Budget documents indicate the property tax rate will remain at 6.86 mills.

Vice President David Borland is moving out of the borough but staying within Fox Chapel Area School District, said council President Tim McLaughlin.

An email sent to Borland after the meeting was not replied to by press time.

Borland was appointed to council in April 2018 to fill the unexpired term of Jennifer Evashavik, who had resigned that month. Borland then successfully ran for election. He was set to enter the final year of his four-year term in January.

“Dave was a great councilman and did yeoman’s work on the comprehensive plan and getting that almost near the finish line, which will happen next year,” McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin said council has 45 days to accept the resignation, and 30 days from that time to appoint a replacement before it could be up to an Allegheny County judge to fill the vacancy through the end of next year.

McLaughlin said the goal is to accept Borland’s resignation in January, start accepting letters of interest and appoint someone in February.

Whoever is appointed would have to run in next year’s election to try to keep it.

The 2023 budget

Councilman Heth Turnquist said there were a few minor tweaks to the preliminary budget approved in November before its final adoption.

“(There was) a small increase for fire vehicle maintenance and a slight decrease to the Shade Tree budget based on a recent discussion of goals for the upcoming year,” he said via email.

McLaughlin said increased fiscal scrutiny over the last several years and strong financial planning have put Aspinwall in a good place to not put more burdens on taxpayers. The borough’s last tax increase was in 2019, from 5.86 mills to 6.86 mills.

“We put a lot of plans in place in 2022, and 2023 will be a great year to start initiating some of the things that we’ve been talking about for a while (such as) our comprehensive plan (and the) Freeport Road safety study,” he said.

Proposed revenue for 2023 is listed at about $3.1 million and expenses at $3.055 million. The budget projects a surplus of at least $45,000.

Income includes $1.733 million in property taxes; $871,500 in local enabling taxes, including business privilege and earned income taxes; $173,750 in miscellaneous revenues; $99,000 in intergovernmental revenues; $77,250 in fines; and $19,100 in licenses and permits.

Expenses include $790,300 for police; $127,500 for legislative costs, which include council and mayor salaries, advertisements and rental of office equipment; $130,350 for executive salaries; $90,000 for parks and recreation; $88,100 for buildings, including maintenance and related salaries; $74,250 for fire protection; $72,000 for planning and zoning; $38,200 for tax collection; and $35,000 for legal services.

The budget is available for review at the borough office, 217 Commercial Ave.