Forest Hills Approves Budget with New Fire Fee, No Tax Increase

residents won’t pay higher taxes in 2012, but a budget council passed Wednesday does include a new fee for fire services.

The $5.89 million budget keeps the property tax rate at 8.35 mills—about $835 a year for someone with property valued at $100,000. The , implemented in part to pay for a truck the department purchased, will cost renters $22.50 for the year. Homeowners will pay $45, and businesses will pay $90.

The budget hasn’t changed since council introduced it last month. But councilman Markus Erbeldinger, who heads the finance committee, said Wednesday that the millage rate could change next year. Erbeldinger said that while council budgeted according to current property values, changes resulting from the county-wide reassessment could change the borough’s total assessed value.

“If the property values go up, we will lower our rate,” Erbeldinger said, adding that owners won’t pay more than they would as of the budget’s passage.

While the budget is about $20,000 more than it was last year, Erbeldinger said revenues decreased. The budget designates roughly $11,000 less for road improvements and $52,000 less for capital projects than it did last year.

“It was a little bit tougher,” Erbeldinger said. “We don’t have any decrease in services—which is important to us.”

The budget is the fifth council passed without raising taxes since 2007, when it implemented a tax increase of one mill designated for road improvements.

“Council has worked hard over the years to bring these budgets in,” said councilman Bill Tomasic. “It’s not an easy thing to accomplish.”

Fees for trash and recycling are $4 lower at $192 and include weekly recycling pickup. Seniors who qualify for a tax discount from Allegheny County receive a reduced fee of $142.

The Allegheny County discount offers a 30 percent reduction in property taxes to seniors older than 60 who have lived in their homes for at least 10 years and have a household income of less than $30,000.

Starting next year, employers are required to deduct local taxes from paychecks. Council approved an agreement with Pennsylvania Municipal Service Company to collect delinquent taxes from 2011 and earlier. 

Borough Manager Steve Morus advised employees not aware of the change to consult the winter issue of the borough’s newsletter, the Tree City Times, for a form they can submit to their employers. The form is also available on the borough’s website.