Springdale Township property owners hit with 46% tax hike

Springdale Township property owners will pay 46% more in real estate taxes next year under the township’s $1.14 million budget approved by commissioners.

The 2025 spending plan, which increases the millage rate from 6.5 to 9.5 mills, passed 3-0 during a commissioners’ meeting, with Commissioners Tim Basilone, Rick Schwartz and Kenneth Igo voting. Commissioners Mariana Burns and Brad Stanzione were not at the meeting, Basilone said.

“We set a plan, we followed that plan, we implemented that this year, and now it’s time to continue that work … the business of the township,” Basilone said of the budget.

“We thank the taxpayers for their understanding, and we hope we service them well.”

Under the new spending plan, the owners of a property with the township’s median assessed value of $77,550 will pay about $736 annually, an increase of $232.

Each mill in Springdale Township brings in about $80,000 in tax revenue.

Springdale Township has not increased taxes in nine years. In the past two years, officials have dipped into reserves to fill a shortfall between expenditures and revenues.

The 3-mill increase gleans about $234,000 more in real estate tax revenue, money officials hope to use for a road pavement plan and other public works projects such as replacing water lines.

In the budget, public works is the largest expenditure at $419,800. Of that, $200,000 is designated toward establishing a road pavement plan. Officials have not determined which roads they will pave next year.

The township allocated $15,000 to the Lower Valley Ambulance Service and $272,000 to the Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department, a merged force with East Deer and Cheswick.

Township homeowners also will see their garbage rates increase from $45 to $75 per quarter because of a new contract with County Hauling.

Earlier this year, commissioners approved a 7% sewage rate increase and a 35% water rate increase, saying at the time the move would build a financial cushion to handle unforeseen maintenance costs.

Also Thursday, township officials paid off two public works vehicles at a total cost of about $100,000. Basilone said the move will save the township roughly $10,000 to $20,000 in interest over the next three years.

Basilone said he didn’t field complaints over the budget. He said most comments seemed to be understanding of the township’s finances. Thursday’s meeting was not crowded, he said.

“People want roads paved,” Basilone said. “They want the township to be kept well.”