Upper Burrell releases details of proposed 2022 budget with 20% tax increase

Upper Burrell released its 2022 preliminary $1.2 million budget with a 20% real estate tax increase to the Tribune-Review on Friday.

Supervisors passed the preliminary budget on Wednesday evening but declined to release the budget to a reporter at that time. Local governments and school districts are required by the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know law to provide budgets when they are presented and discussed by governments and school boards, according to the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association.

Upper Burrell, a rural township, has the smallest operating budget compared to neighboring communities Allegheny and Washington townships, Lower Burrell and Plum.

For the 2022 budget, supervisors plan to increase real estate taxes — from 10 mills to 12 mills — for the first time in more than 16 years.

The proposed tax hike primarily is driven by the loss of real estate tax money from its largest landowner, Arconic, formerly Alcoa. That loss in annual revenue, $39,000, from a settlement on a real estate tax appeal, accounts for half of the two-mill tax increase, township officials said. A mill brings in about $40,000.

Increasing costs across the board also fueled the need to raise taxes, township officials said.

The majority of revenue in the 2022 budget would come from real estate taxes, per capita tax, earned income tax and other taxes bringing in $921,000 to the township coffers.

One of the township’s largest expenses is for police and public safety, including salaries for two officers, which runs almost $400,000.

Highways and streets expenses totaled about $103,000. Highway repairs, including salaries of three full-time workers, were close to $228,000.

Expenses for the township secretary’s office are about $115,000, which includes salary, pension, office communication expenses, capital purchases, software maintenance and other expenses.

Fire protection, including the township contribution to its volunteer fire department, totaled about $88,000.

The 2022 budget is available for residents to see at the Upper Burrell Municipal Building during weekday operations at 3735 Seventh Street Road.