Taxes would jump 11.4% under proposed Mt. Pleasant budget
Mt. Pleasant council is proposing an 11.4% property tax hike but still will need to draw money from the borough’s reserve fund to help support a tentative 2025 budget of about $1.5 million.
With the 2 mill hike, to 19.5 mills, the borough would plan to draw almost $9,500 from its reserves.
“The budget, without a tax increase, is very problematic without really invading your reserve fund substantially,” solicitor Leslie Mlakar said at this week’s council meeting.
According to alternate budget scenarios prepared by borough manager Sharon Lesko, Mt. Pleasant would have to draw close to $69,500 fr0m the reserve fund of $404,000 if it holds the line on the property tax, and about $39,500 if it were to raise the tax by 1 mill.
The borough tapped the reserve fund for more than $52,000 to help support the current year’s budget.
The borough’s last property tax increase was 1.5 mills, in 2017.
Mlakar said the millage increase would add $31.60 to the annual tax bill of a resident who owns a property with an assessed value of $15,800.
Mt. Pleasant is planning for expenses next year totaling a projected $1,526,253, down from $1,552,448 that was budgeted for 2024.
The largest expense included in the tentative 2025 budget is $407,787 for public safety, up from $389,386. Street expenses are budgeted at $315,386, up from $311,952.
Lesko said the borough will pay a portion of engineering expenses for a project set to improve a hillside overlooking Frick Park. She said it’s a local match for a state grant of about $376,000 the borough has been awarded for the project.
According to Lesko, the project will include shoring up the hillside between the park and Spence Way, creating a space where spectators can view ball games played at the recreational site.
“They put railroad ties along there, kind of in steps, and some shrubs,” Lesko has said of the hillside. “It just got overgrown, and the railroad ties are starting to give way.”
The borough paid Gibson-Thomas Engineering $5,000 to create an initial site plan for the project.
Lesko reported a combined $593,000 in state grants the borough received will support the hillside project and acquisition of a street sweeper.
Council will vote on a final version of the 2025 budget in December.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
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