By Jamie Wiggan
While many neighboring municipalities have scaled back revenue projections for 2021 in anticipation of lingering headwinds from the coronavirus fallout, Neville commissioners passed a general fund budget Dec. 10 with increased income and spending forecasts.
Overall, the new budget predicts income and expenses to balance at $1.54 million in 2021, up from the $1.47 million spending plan passed for 2020.
The jump is forecasted without property tax raises.
Manager Jeanne Creese said Neville’s growth despite the broad economic slowdown resulting from the pandemic is due to its industrial economy.
“Our business revenue comes from industry, and for the most part, that industry was not impacted,” she said.
“…We had some businesses that actually thrived because of Covid.”
Sewage hike
While the general fund was passed without tax raises, Neville’s sewer rates are due to increase as the township absorbs its share of the costs for the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority’s (ALCOSAN) $2 billion upgrade program.
“The township can no longer absorb the ALCOSAN cost to treat sewage without a customer rate increase,” according to Neville’s website.
Heading into 2021, Neville’s base rates will start at $39.00 per quarter — up $4.40 from the current rate. Beyond the 2,000 gallon base rate cap, customers will pay $21.75 for each additional 1,000 gallons --— a $4.45 increase from the current rate.
ALCOSAN has informed customers countywide they should anticipate rate hikes between 7 – 15% in 2021.