Rostraver adopts budget without tax increase
ROSTRAVER TWP. — The last official meeting of the Rostraver Township commissioners for 2016 saw the passage of the new budget and a number of other financial items.
The budget of $5.7 million will be supported by real estate taxes of 15 mils, or $150 for each $10,000 of assessed value, with no increase in taxes.
The commissioners also voted to retain PNC as the township’s depository and to continue the real estate transfer tax, earned income tax and other taxes in the township in 2017. The participants in the township’s police pension fund will not be required to contribute to that fund in 2017, and the township will match up to 7 percent of employees’ income in contributions to the Uniform Thrift Plan if the employee is also contributing 7 percent.
Holtsinger PC was named as the independent auditor for the township for 2017, though it was announced that it will be the last year that the Wexford-based firm will be handling municipal audits.
The commissioners also voted to give the township secretary, Pamela Beard, a 3 percent pay raise, taking her pay to $26.15 per hour.
The Rostraver No. 1 and Collinsburg Volunteer Fire departments were each given $55,500 from the township fire account after providing the appropriate documentation. Rostraver No. 1, Rostraver Central and Collinsburg fire departments also each received $11,500 as an advance on their 2017 payment from the township. That money is coming from reserves in the 2016 budget.
“We are blessed in Rostraver to have volunteer fire departments. They save the taxpayers a tremendous amount of money,” said solicitor Al Gaudio.
The commissioners also voted to pay the Rostraver Public Library $7,500 from the 2016 budget surplus in lieu of an increase in the 2017 allocation.
The commissioners also voted to reappoint Commissioner Gary Litvany to a five-year term on the Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority from January 2017 through January 2022.