Diane P. Heming- Director

The Municipality of Murrysville has continued to provide excellent services to the residents without the need for any type of tax increase. The current millage rate of 12.15 mills has been constant since 2006. Revenues continue to grow at approximately 2.5 to 3 % annually and hard work by dedicated staff work to keep operating expenses in line with these revenues while maintaining and improving infrastructures, services and parks.

Items completed by the Finance department in 2016:

• The 2015 financial audit was prepared in accordance with GASB 34 requirements with no material findings. In mid- February of 2017, the fieldwork will begin for the 2016 Financial Statement audit.

• The 2017-2021 Capital Improvements Program($ 13,675,670) and the 2017 Operating Budget($ 13,477,627) were both approved with tax millage and service levels staying constant. A five year budget plan was completed for all of the funds and presented along with the 2017 Operating Budget.

• The assessed value of property within the Municipality is established by Westmoreland County and for 2017 is $ 337,691,040. This is an increase of 1.34 % over 2016.

• The 2017 estimated value of one mill in tax revenue to the Municipality is $ 332,000.

• Real estate tax collections accounts for 33 % of total revenues while local taxes, including earned income, per capita and local services taxes account for 44 % of the total revenues.

• In total, $ 632,000 was transferred into the Capital Reserve Fund during 2016. $ 332,000 was transferred from current revenues and $ 300,000 was from the Unreserved General Fund Balance. Both transfers will be held in the Capital Reserve Fund for future capital projects.

• An additional $ 100,000 was used to purchase land to be used as a trail head for the Rails to Trails project passing through Murrysville.

• The 2016 Minimum Municipal Pension Obligation was calculated using the 2015 Valuation; therefore, costs remained consistent with 2015. The 2015 Actuarial Valuation for both plans reported improved investment returns and lower costs. This increased the assets in both plans and brought the funding level for the Police Pension Plan to 103 % funded and the Non-Uniform Plan to 98.6 % funded. Both 2015 and 2016 pension obligations were considerably lower than prior years because of this fully funded valuation.

• The Director of Finance continues to be an active Board Member of the County-wide Tax Collection Committee, which oversees all earned income tax collections for Westmoreland County.

• Scanning of all pertinent files continues with all off-site storage eliminated at this time. The project is on schedule to eventually have all permanent documents such as financial data, building plans and permits, Ordinances, Resolutions, Policies and Procedures scanned and easily accessible to staff while all permanent documents will be safely stored off site.

• The Administrative staff bathrooms were updated with new flooring, fixtures and paint.

• Renovations to the Community Center were completed in late summer with the help of Public Works, the Custodian and Administrative staff. These included updating both bathrooms, creating a new serving area with cabinetry and more usable counter space, fresh paint, new window coverings, updated lighting, and new flooring. In addition, a new gravel parking lot and rear entrance with handicapped parking was installed. It is the hope of the Municipality that the renovations will give the Center a more welcoming look and attract area businesses to rent the space for larger meetings and retreats as well as appeal to a wider group of people looking to rent space for a special occasion.