Ross Engineer Says Infrastructure Needs Not Addressed in 2012 Budget

Ross Township needs a dedicated capital fund for its paving program and parks system — even if that means asking for another tax increase, Ross Township Engineer Art Gazdik told Ross Township’s Board of Commissioners Monday.

“The township runs very tight to the bone,” he said of 2011's $14.7 million operating budget and next year’s proposed $15.2 million operating budget.

“A millage increase can be used for all sorts of capital expenses.”

Monday was the board’s first review of the draft of the 2012 budget.

Although closely mirroring this year’s revenues and expenses with just a 4.3 percent increase in spending, the proposal prepared by township Manager Wayne Jones includes the addition of a part-time code enforcement officer, the lease of a new street sweeper, and a 5.5 percent increase in the contributions to the township’s eight volunteer fire companies.

The part-time code enforcement officer, at 20 hours a week, would cost the township an additional $12,480 annually, Jones said. The additional help would be used to focus on violations to the 2009 property maintenance code, including complaints about grass not being cut and overgrown hedges. 

The increase in contributions to the volunteer fire companies would mean an additional $3,000 for each of the departments for a total of $58,000 apiece, compared with this year's $55,000 allotment. The companies include departments in the neighborhoods of , , , , , , and . 

The proposed budget sets aside $195,282 — or about 1.3 percent of operating expenses — in reserve.

No funds are strictly set aside for capital expenses, according to the budget, although the general fund includes the lease of the new street sweeper at $38,000 a year and the leases of three new police cars at $43,000 a year each, as well as another $45,000 for computer hardware, building alterations and furniture replacement.

About $400,000 is set aside for the paving program — far from the $1.2 million to $1.5 million requested by the township engineer.

“I believe roads are a baseline issue,” he told the commissioners Monday. “If you can’t maintain roads, you have an issue.”

The township is responsible for about 100 miles of roadway. Until 2010, the township repaved about 5.3 miles of roadway every year at a cost of about $1 million per year. Funding for the paving program was eliminated in 2010 and added back into 2011’s budget at a cost of $438,000.

That budget allowed the township . At that rate, it’ll take 81 years before the township returns to repave a road, Gazdik said.

Ideally, roads are repaved every 20 years, he said.

He said the lack of attention now will start to be noticeable in about three or four years.

He also noted that the township had no long-term funding plan in place for park improvements to the 200-acre system it maintains. . That report is expected to be complete sometime next spring.

Without investments now, “the township will be falling apart,” Gazdik said. “It won’t look like it does now. It worries me because I live here and I intend to stay here.”

“Please consider doing the right thing for the community,” he said.

Ross raised taxes in December, approving a 1.0329-mill increase that earmarked the revenue for the police department. The increase was the first the township had approved in 20 years.

“Last year we did half the work that needed to be done,” Commissioner Chris Eyster of Ward 2 said after Gazdik’s presentation. “This year we I believe we have to focus on the infrastructure. I’m in favor of an increase.”

At least one other commissioner, however, distanced himself from the suggestion.

Commissioner Pete Ferraro, Ward 8, said it would be “unmerciful” to raise taxes again and at the same time Allegheny County will be announcing the results of its property reassessments.

“We know after last year, it’s not going to happen.”

What do you think of the Township's budget priorities? Do you agree with the township engineer? Would you be willing to pay more in taxes now to invest in the township's infrastructure? Tell us in the comments.