Forest Hills Council Discusses Preliminary Budget

Forest Hills Council Wednesday discussed a preliminary 2012 budget that holds the line on taxes and includes recycling services at a lower cost.

While it held the property tax millage rate at 8.35, the budget does include a new , which has a yearly rate of $22.50 for renters, $45 for homeowners and $90 for businesses.

Councilman Bill Tomasic stressed that the fire fee was implemented to help pay for a new fire truck and fund the fire department, and that money can’t be used for any other purpose.

“If you have a general fund, you can take that money and move it to any position within the budget that you want to,” Tomasic said. “But these fees—the garbage fee, the trash fee, the sewer fee and the fire fee—those are keyed in to specific costs.”

Tomasic disagreed with criticism that measures such as the fire services fee are essentially tax increases in disguise.

“We do have to provide monies to help the volunteer fire department out,” Tomasic said. “There’s more transparency. The people know exactly what they’re getting for the fee.”

The total preliminary budget amount is $5.78 million—down from $5.87 million in 2011. Expenditures will be reduced by roughly $37,000 for public safety, $109,000 for public works and $75,000 for sewage and sanitation. Expenditures will increase by about $13,500 for administration and $1,000 for recreation. 

Total tax collection is expected to be about $11,000 less than in 2011, and state funding will remain roughly the same. Part of the reduction in sanitation costs comes from a switch to a Waste Management services package that will collect recycling weekly rather than biweekly, and offer household hazardous waste collection.

Waste Management spokesman Albert Pasquarelli said the company will collect hazardous wastes—such as computers, electronics, light bulbs and paint—on an as-needed basis. 

Residents can call to receive instructions for disposal and will be mailed special bags for collection. Waste Management hopes to collect from 20 to 30 houses each pickup.

Pasquarelli said communities with weekly recycling dates tend to see more participation from residents.

“You’re going to see a dramatic increase,” Pasquarelli said.

Councilman Steve Karas agreed that the additional services will make it easier for residents to recycle.

“That’s all a very good environmental thing,” Karas said. “And at the end of the year, based on more recycling and less tonnage in the landfill, the municipality gets money back from the state. So, it’s also a good financial decision.”

The fee for residents, Karas noted, is a little more than a dollar less per month than the current agreement. 

Waste Management and the borough will distribute door hangers and other literature notifying residents of the changes.

Residents can sound off on the budget, which will be posted to the borough website, at council's next meeting Dec. 6.

Council is scheduled vote on a final budget Dec. 21, but President Frank Porco added that additional changes can be made in January.