Duquesne Council Considers Fee Increases

Trash, water, health insurance prices drive possible hikes

By Tom Leturgey
The Tube City Almanac
November 17, 2025
Posted in: Duquesne News

Duquesne City Council is planning to hold the line on real estate taxes in 2026, but is considering increases in fees for water, trash collection and other services.

At this month’s council meeting, the city presented its first reading of the 2026 budget.

The budget holds the city’s blended real estate tax millage at 20 mills, which includes 17 mills for the general fund, 2 mills for debt and 1 mill for the volunteer fire department. One mill equals $1 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

At 20 mills, a house in Duquesne with a fair market value of $75,000 would pay $1,500 in city real estate tax.

But that isn’t the end for taxpayers. Officials are proposing a 10 percent increase in water rates — which includes a 3.3 percent increase in payments to Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County — as well as a 10 percent increase in the municipal service fee, due to a 7.5 percent contractual increase to County Hauling, the city’s trash collector.

City officials said the fee increases are in part designed to offset an anticipated 12.5 percent increase in health insurance premiums. They added that health insurance premium increases are a nationwide concern.

Officials say that they will once again go after delinquent taxpayers in 2026.

In other business, council approved a motion for Transcend Financial, LLC, to provide financial services to the city on a monthly retainer of $1,900. In addition, council approved a Professional Services Agreement with Hermann & Loll to prepare the city’s 2025 Financial Statements for a cost not to exceed $17,000.

City Manager Douglas Sample said the agreement saves Duquesne “$10,000” as it will take the place of duties performed by an employee who left.

Engineer Laura Branthoover noted that the city was surprised to only receive one bid for its upcoming 2026 paving contract and a water-line project that needs to be done. Because the city needs at least three competitive bids, she said the projects will be advertised again.

Council approved a resolution requesting a $1 million grant from the state’s Local Share Account for the replacement of a water main on Center Street. The project would be “curb to curb” alteration of the road.

Council adopted a resolution requesting $500,000 from Community Development Block Grant funds for the renovation of the Public Works Building.

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 November 17, 2025.

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