Aspinwall property owners likely won't see a borough real estate tax hike in 2025

Aspinwall officials plan to hold the line on real estate taxes with next year’s budget.

Council unanimously approved advertising its 2025 spending plan Nov. 13.

Budget documents show the millage rate remains 8.36 mills, including 0.5 mills for public safety.

One mill generates about $150,000 in revenue.

Projected revenue and expenditures were listed at about $3.764 million.

Income includes $2.058 million in real estate taxes, $1.09 million in local enabling taxes including earned income and business privilege taxes, $129,600 in fines and forfeits including parking tickets, $196,400 in miscellaneous income, $108,000 in intergovernmental revenues and $3,100 in state shared revenue.

Expenses includes $814,600 for police, $151,670 for fire protection, $149,500 for executive spending including administrative salaries, $142,300 for legislative spending including council and mayor salaries, association dues, Council of Governments contributions, equipment and accounting services, $94,700 for parks, $62,300 for planning and zoning, $48,000 for tax collection and $35,000 for legal services.

The borough budgeted $148,000 for paving and brick work.

Borough Manager Melissa Lang O’Malley said the borough plans to rebrick Emerson, Delafield, Lexington and Fourth avenues.

Those streets originally were part of this year’s repair plans but were put on hold because of gas line replacements, O’Malley said. Roads are evaluated for repairs yearly.

Aspinwall and Fox Chapel councils voted earlier this year to boost their annual contributions to Foxwall EMS.

O’Malley said her borough’s $81,000 donation is listed under the civil and military celebrations/civil donations along with $14,000 to the Cooper-Siegel Community Library.

Fox Chapel Council was expected to vote Nov. 18 to advertise its 2025 budget, which was unavailable at press time.

Heth Turnquist, Aspinwall Council’s vice president and finance chair, said the borough is in good financial shape because of the tough decisions made to benefit this year and future budgets.

Last year, Aspinwall raised taxes by about 22%, with some funds allocated for emergency services. It raised its business privilege tax from $100 to $500 in August 2023. The borough hiked parking fines in May 2022.

“We’ve spread the burden not just on the property owners in town,” Turnquist said. “(The budget) is pretty straightforward this year compared to other years. … There’s not too many bells and whistles.”

He also cited increases in property values, earning income and home turnover, meaning buying and selling of properties, as good economic signs for Aspinwall.

“It was a smooth process,” O’Malley said about the budget planning. “Everything was straightforward. There weren’t a whole lot of changes from (this year to next year).”

She said Aspinwall expects to have a $340,000 surplus by the end of this year. It will use those funds to cover expenses the first few months until tax money starts coming in.

A major repair project planned for the spring is the Fifth Avenue retaining wall restoration.

The borough has sought several grants for it over the past few years but has been unsuccessful in securing funding.

Council set aside $475,000 this year and the same amount this coming year to cover the estimated $950,000 project should other grant attempts fail.

O’Malley said they are awaiting a response from the state on its latest Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund application.

The proposed budget was posted on the borough website and is available at the borough office for review.

It will be discussed once again Dec. 4 and is scheduled for formal adoption Dec. 11.