December 05, 2019 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Click to read Mayor Michael Cherepko’s budget message (PDF reader required)
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McKeesport city council has approved a 2-mill increase in property taxes for 2020.
The increase comes despite a nearly $2 million decrease in projected spending for next year.
Mayor Michael Cherepko told council the city must continue to address annual budget deficits that in the past were paid for through asset sales and other one-time fixes.
Selling the sewerage authority in 2017 “bought us time to try to fix things,” and spending cuts have helped, but expenses are still outpacing revenues by about $1 million per year, Cherepko said.
The city has only increased property taxes once since 2001, when council actually lowered the tax rate on vacant land. In retrospect, that may have been a mistake, Cherepko said.
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December 04, 2019 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: Duquesne News
Citing a lack of funding, Duquesne will suspend any additional hearings on demolishing abandoned buildings until the beginning of 2020.
But normal bills will be paid as usual, a city official said.
“We don't have the funds in order to take out the advertisements and the things that need (to be) done,” City Solicitor Myron Sainovich told council.
“The city will not hold any hearings on property demolitions until the beginning of next year, due to lack of funding,” he said. “We are running on a bare minimum budget until the end of the year. So some of these things are going to be put off.”
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December 04, 2019 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport, Duquesne, South Allegheny and other local school districts will participate in a statewide rally on Thursday demanding more oversight of Pennsylvania’s charter schools.
A group called Pennsylvania League of Urban Schools, or PLUS, is planning simultaneous press conferences at 12 noon at nearly 20 different school districts, calling on Gov. Tom Wolf and the state General Assembly to address what its leaders call “unfair and inequitable” funding.
“We are coming together in solidarity to stand up for fair funding,” said Stephen Rodriguez, president of PLUS and superintendent of the Pottstown Area School District, located about an hour northwest of Philadelphia in eastern Pennsylvania.
Other local districts planning to participate in Thursday's rally include Clairton, Penn Hills, Steel Valley, Wilkinsburg and Woodland Hills.
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December 04, 2019 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne will seek $1 million in state funding to upgrade the city's sewer and water infrastructure.
City council voted to pursue the grants from the state Department of Community and Economic Development's Commonwealth Financing Authority.
The city is requesting the maximum grant amount of $500,000 through the Pennsylvania Small Water and Sewer Grant Program and $500,000 request from the H20 PA program.
The Small Water and Sewer grant is designed to assist with the construction, improvement, expansion or rehabilitation or repair of a water supply system, sanitary sewer system, storm sewer system, or flood control projects.
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December 02, 2019 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
West Smithfield Street in Elizabeth Twp. and Lincoln Borough is being closed weekdays between 12 noon and 5 p.m. so that crews can build a wall.
Work will continue through Dec. 13, weather permitting, he said.
Motorists are being detoured via Route 48, Lovedale Road and Liberty Way.
December 02, 2019 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
North Versailles Twp. will hold a community Christmas party at 6 p.m. Dec. 20 the community center, 1401 Greensburg Ave., said township Commissioner Tracy Yusko on behalf of the parks and recreation department, the North Versailles Twp.
The township also will hold a contest to choose the "best decorated house," with judging on Dec. 13. To nominate your own house or someone else's, please register with the parks and recreation department. The township office phone number is (412) 823-6602.
December 02, 2019 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News, Duquesne News
Duquesne police Chief Thomas Dunlevy said during the month of October, police responded to 961 incidents and handled 85 criminal investigations resulting in the arrest of 53 adults and three juveniles. A total of 471 citations and warnings were issued. Police Officer Andy Carter submitted his resignation, effective Dec. 1, to accept a position with the Allegheny County Housing Authority Police.
Dunlevy said Duquesne police will hold a full active shooter drill at Duquesne Elementary Center in January 2020.
November 28, 2019 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Tube City Almanac photo)
A stone panel fell from the People's Building on Wednesday afternoon, causing one lane of Lysle Boulevard to be closed Downtown.
No one was injured when the block fell at around 1 p.m. from the third-story corner of the so-called annex of the building, at the corner of Lysle Boulevard and Walnut Street.
McKeesport police, firefighters and ambulance rescue services responded to the scene.
The sidewalk near the building and part of one lane of Lysle Boulevard remained closed on Thursday.
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November 27, 2019 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
North Versailles Twp. commissioners have approved a preliminary budget for 2020 that includes no tax increase.
At this month's meeting, commissioners approved a tentative budget for 2020 in the amount of $8.1 million, consisting of $7,577,657 for the general fund; $331,248 for the liquid fuels fund and $205,010 for the fire tax fund.
Commissioners also gave preliminary approval to an ordinance fixing the tax rate for the year 2020 at 7.25 mills for the general fund and 0.5 mills for the fire tax.
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November 26, 2019 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements, West Newton News
West Newton Center for Active Adults will host a free craft session at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 9 when attendees can learn how to make beads from paper. The event is being sponsored by the Rewind-Reuse Center and Workshop.
A spokesperson said the Rewind-Reuse Center and Workshop is dedicated to a green initiative reusing discarded materials and turning them into art rather than sending items to landfills.
Advanced registration is requested by calling (724) 872-4976. The West Newton Center is located at 103 East Main St.
