Proposed 2025 Glen Osborne budget has no real estate tax hike

Glen Osborne officials hope to hold the line on property taxes with their 2025 budget.

The proposed $800,0000 spending plan is expected to be passed Dec. 17.

Projected revenues include about $391,600 in real estate taxes, $255,000 in earned income taxes, $45,000 in real estate transfer taxes and $9,000 in Local Services Tax.

Projected spending includes about $352,500 for public works, $204,000 for public safety, $202,260 for government including administrative salaries, supplies and other services and $41,000 for public service.

Should council approve the budget as-is, it would be the third straight year the millage rate would remain 4.9 mills.

Council president Tom Huddleston said maintaining programs and services without raising taxes requires a lot of hard work.

“We do a lot of work with our vendors,” Huddleston said on Dec. 4. “Maintenance-wise, we’re managing the (labor) hours (more) closely than we did before. We’re trying to leverage with the (Quaker Valley Council of Governments) to get better pricing.

“To be very frank, there’s a lot of aggressive management which has worked out pretty well for us.”

Borough secretary/treasurer Diane Vierling said financial planning is a year-round process with a focus on the coming year beginning in October.

“We’re very conscientious about all our expenses,” she said.

Vierling said another reason the borough is able to stave off a tax increase is due to interest earnings and dividends from the Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust. It’s a trust available for local governments, school districts, municipal authorities and other types of governments.

A closer breakdown of the proposed borough budget shows about $61,500 is allocated for trash collection through Waste Management. Glen Osborne’s contract with the hauler runs through 2026.

Borough residents’ weekly garbage collection and recycling are included in borough taxes.

About $123,800 is budgeted for police protection. Glen Osborne contracts with Sewickley for police services and the contract expires at the end of next year.

About $36,800 is allocated for fire protection from Sewickley-based Cochran Hose Company, an all-volunteer fire station.

“We’re right next door,” Vierling said. “We have excellent, excellent police service and excellent, excellent Cochran Hose service. The important thing is to have services for the residents.”

Glen Osborne budgeted $15,000 for code enforcement, $12,000 for snow removal, $8,500 for Mary Roberts Rinehart Nature Park and $6,000 for ambulance service.

About $107,200 is budgeted for paving and road repairs with a focus on Glen Mitchell Road.

Huddleston commended Vierling and councilwoman Holly Merriman, finance chair, for crafting the 2025 budget.

“She’s done a fantastic job with the numbers working with Diane and put together a very positive budget this year,” Huddleston said.

No major changes are expected to be made to the proposed financial plan prior to its adoption.

Residents can review it at the administrative office located inside the Sewickley Borough Building, 601 Thorn St.

Glen Osborne is less than one square mile with 210 residential properties and about 590 residents, according to borough records.

Council meets at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month at Osborne Elementary School, 1414 Beaver Road.

Sewer project continues

One major repair project that’s expected to be completed next year is sewer relining. The work is planned along Beaver Road from Davis Lane to Osborne Lane; along Beaver Road from Rabbit Hill to Lantern Lane; along Orchard Street from Beaver Road to the end, and along the entire length of Linden Street.

The borough was able to secure a $134,800 grant through the state Gaming Economic Development & Tourism Fund.

Total project costs were estimated at more than $162,000. Glen Osborne would have to come up with about $27,500 to pay for the repairs.

The grant was obtained through the QVCOG with support from state Rep. Valerie Gaydos and state Sen. Devlin Robinson.

QVCOG executive director Patrick Connors said the original project involved 15 sewer mains. However, an engineering report determined six could not be lined.

Connors said the project scope had to be changed and reapproved by the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County.

Updated plans involve more than 3,900 linear feet of deteriorated 8-inch clay sanitary sewer pipe.

Connors said the hope is the county redevelopment authority will approve the requested change at its January meeting.

Repairs actually started a few months ago.

Borough engineer Clint Reilly said the project is more than halfway completed with the remaining work to be performed early next year.