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South Fayette raises property tax

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Rather than charge residents a garbage fee, the South Fayette Township commission passed its $9.7 million 2016 budget and opted to raise taxes by 1 mill to help fund repairs on the municipality’s 65 miles of roads.

The decision to raise property taxes came after a number of residents told township commissioners at the Dec. 9 meeting the proposed $214 annual garbage fee would be too much of a burden on some in the township.

Besides the residents expressing their opposition to the fee at the meeting, Ryan Eggleston, township manager, said there were more than 1,000 visits to the township’s budget web page and the majority said they were against the proposed charge.

The property tax increase amounts to less than $200 a year for a township resident and can be a tax write-off, unlike the proposed garbage fee. Seniors, 66 and older, would have been exempt from the garbage fee, Eggleston said.

“This is a decision we are not taking lightly,” said commission President Joseph Horowitz. “It has kept me up at night.”

Instead, a portion of the one mill increase, which will bring the property tax rate in the township to 4.48 mills, will generate an additional $1.14 million in revenue, most of which will be earmarked toward road improvements. This is the first time in 16 years property taxes have been raised by the township.

“Taxes have remained stagnant,” said Commissioner Jessica Cardillo said. “Costs have gone up.”

In other matters, retiring South Fayette police officers Lt. Robert Kurta and Patrolman Joseph Staniszewski, were honored for their service to the municipality.

Staniszewski has been with the department for 37½ years, while Kurta has been a member for 33½ years.

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