Tax rate holds as Crafton plans for major infrastructure projects in new year

Crafton residents can look forward to another year without a property tax increase, but cooling off in the community pool will cost a tad bit more.

And it might take motorists a bit longer to get around if they’re using Broadhead Avenue or Steuben Street.

The status quo property tax levels are part of what the Borough Council described as a “conservative” 2025 budget that it unanimously approved Thursday evening.

Property owners will continue to pay $8.59 in property tax for every $1,000 of their property’s assessed value. However, pool and garbage fees are set to increase.

It’s the fifth year in a row that there will be no increase to the property tax rate. Property owners will continue to pay $8.59 in property tax for every $1,000 of their property’s assessed value. However, pool and garbage fees are set to increase.

Specifically, private pool parties will increase by 50%, from $150 to $225. Individual pool memberships will also increase by $5. 

The borough’s garbage rates are also increasing from $285 to $329, about a 19% increase, because the borough’s 10-year contract with the company that currently handles its waste management expires at the end of the year. Despite the increase, the garbage rate is still much better than some neighboring municipalities, Borough Manager Jim Price said. 

The current waste management provider will handle recycling collection on Dec. 24, followed by a final garbage pickup on Dec. 31. Crafton residents can expect notice of their new schedules for garbage and recycling in the next few weeks, according to borough officials. Crafton signed a five-year contract with a new company, Valley Waste Management, which will begin servicing the borough Jan. 2. 

Before passing the 2025 budget, the council held seven hour-long budget workshops that were open to the public. Council President John Oliverio praised the budget process and said it produced a “very balanced” 2025 budget. 

“It’s important to see this [property tax rate] can’t be forever, but the goal is to keep it that way, be conservative and be fiscally responsible,” Oliverio said. 

A majority of the construction and capital improvement projects coming to the borough in 2025 will be funded through grant money. Over 75% of the borough’s $13 million infrastructure budget, approximately $10 million, will come from grant funding, Price said.

Two major infrastructure projects coming to Crafton in 2025 are sewer separation initiatives.

Residents can expect work on Broadhead Avenue and Steuben Street, along with some connecting roads, as the borough works to comply with the EPA’s requirement to remove stormwater from the water system. 

“There’s going to be a lot of construction coming up in 2025,” Oliverio said, “and a lot of that is through grant money, which has been very helpful for us.” 

Balanced budget helped by revenue gains

Crafton experienced an unexpected increase in generated revenue over the past year, but the council chose to maintain a conservative approach to the budget, according to Price. For instance, the borough experienced higher pool revenue this summer, driven by hotter temperatures, but the council avoided projecting similar gains for next year, preparing instead for the possibility of different conditions.

Mayor Coletta Perry estimated Crafton would have a slight budget surplus by the end of 2024. 

“We are basically on track as usual,” Perry said. “A few things over, a few things under, but we may actually end the year slightly under budget.”