Residents weigh in on proposed Penn Hills budget

Rising sewage rates dominated the conversation at a Penn Hills public budget hearing on Nov. 20.

Of the roughly 30 people in attendance, six offered input on the municipality’s proposed spending plan for 2024, which does not include any tax increases or service cuts.

Resident Colleen Conley suggested that the municipality allocate $1 million in American Rescue Plan funds to service debt on past sewer upgrades, an idea echoed by others at the meeting.

Of the $17.1 million the municipality received in federal stimulus funds, only $615,178 remains available for the upcoming year. This final portion is marked for storm and sanitary sewer repairs in the draft budget.

Penn Hills manager Scott Andrejchak noted that this money would hardly make a dent in the municipality’s total sewer bonds, which stand at $43.1 million.

“Even if that total debt was paid down by an extra $1 million, I don’t know that that’s going to affect the ratepayer as much as you think,” Andrejchak said.

The draft budget lists a residential sewage rate of $24.63 per 1,000 gallons, a $1.61 increase from 2023. Since 2015, this rate has nearly doubled, driven in part by growing fees from Alcosan.

Municipal officials also heard a request from Penn Hills Library executive director Tina Zins for a 4% funding hike. The draft budget allocates $572,094 to the library, the same as 2023.

“We’re seeing inflated costs across the board,” Zins said. “For us to maintain our current level of service, we are estimating a 394% increase for Microsoft licenses and a 20 to 30% increase for our staff and public computer leases.”

Resident Greg Swatchick asked council to explore funding for deer population control and a redrawn zoning map. Regarding the map, Swatchick claimed that Andrejchak and Penn Hills planning director Chris Blackwell said “they don’t have to follow the law” to update it when required.

Pauline Calabrese said she found Swatchick’s version of events “very difficult to believe.”

“They are government employees, that doesn’t mean they can be punching bags,” Calabrese said. “I will not sit here and permit the reputation of these government employees to be disparaged.”

Residents will have another opportunity to voice their thoughts on Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. In the meantime, the budget can be viewed online through the municipal website or Savvy Citizen app, and in person at the library or administrative building at 102 Duff Road. Calabrese said that residents can also reach out to officials directly to discuss the spending plan.

“You have access to us anytime,” Calabrese said. “If there’s anything that needs to be changed, we want to hear from you, because it’s your money.”