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Duquesne Council OK’s 2025 Budget
No tax increase in city spending plan
By Tom Leturgey
The Tube City Almanac
December 15, 2024
Posted in: Duquesne News
Download Duquesne’s 2025 Budget
Duquesne has approved a 2025 budget with no tax increase.
At the Dec. 3 meeting, city council voted 4-0 to approve a $4 million spending plan with no tax increase.
The city’s tax millage will remain at 20 mills. According to the budget, some $620,000 will be allocated to County Hauling for garbage pickup. A total of $200,000 is allocated for vacant building demolition in the new year.
Officials said that a code enforcement officer might be hired in 2025.
Artim noted that the 13-page budget, as well as fees will be posted on the city’s official website.
Council also voted to move forward with plans to raze some buildings. In a rare occasion, Mayor R. Scott Adams was unable to attend the meeting due to work obligations. It was his first absence in quite some time.
Council Member Elaine Washington chaired the meeting, which clocked in at less than 20 minutes. Council Member Aaron Adams participated via Zoom.
In other business, council voted to authorize the city to participate in the South Hills DUI Task Force.
Public Works Director Steve Arbasak told council that his department had 400 pounds of road salt and crews were “ready to go” in the event of any harsh weather with snow.
Council Member Adams reported that the Water Department was still coordinating with the state Department of Environmental Protection but there were no issues to report.
In the community and economic development report, Council Member Denise Brownfield presented the second and third reading of the ordinance adopting procedures and policy related to dangerous structures.
City Engineer Laura Branthoover read off the list of properties that are scheduled for demolition, but at press time those property addresses were not confirmed. She did say there is a fully executed contract, and more developments should occur in the next week or so.
Tom Leturgey is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh and the editor of KSWA Digest, the online news and features home of the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance. His work also appears in The Valley Mirror and other publications.
Originally published December 15, 2024.
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