Council has adopted a $6,673,870 budget that holds the property tax rate at 7.4 mills.

The budget passed by a 4-0 vote last Thursday along with the sewer fund and liquid fuels fund budgets. Councilman Larry Harkovich was absent and Council President Tom Snyder, who was in attendance, did not vote because he is serving as acting mayor.

In making the motion to approve the general fund budget, Councilwoman Vera Freshwater added an amendment to include $1,500 for a Memorial Day Parade, stating it would be "atrocious" to pass a new spending plan "without money to honor our soldiers."

"If we can include money for the library and the fire department, we have to support the veterans of the area," she said.

Councilwoman Dorothy Kelly agreed there probably would be sufficient money to finance the parade, to which Manager Stephen Vincenti added that the outlay could come from the municipal building materials and supply cost.

Other local enabling taxes were renewed without changes except for the business privilege tax, which will be levied at $100 for businesses with one to three employees, $200 for those with four-10 employees and $300 for those with more than 10 employees.

Also approved was authorization to raise the basic sewer service rate at $11.50 per 1,000 gallons of water used. The increase is necessary to cover the estimated $1 million in repairs mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency.

A $3.7 million budget holds the line on property taxes and, thanks to Wall Street, enables the borough to beef up its road resurfacing program.

Pension fund obligations drop from $250,000 to $166,000 in 2008 because of the better-than-anticipated performance of the plan's investment portfolio, said borough Manager Tom Cellante.

Overall spending in this year's budget is down 3 percent although salaries will rise by 3 percent. Some $200,000 has been set aside for road work, Mr. Cellante said, which is significantly more than last year.

Council members voted 6-1 to approve a $3.9 million budget, which calls for a tax increase of 1.75 mills, raising the property tax rate to 7.25 mills. Each mill generates approximately $200,000.

Councilman Dan Cindric opposed the action Dec. 12, and members Bill Odgen and Susan Viola were absent.

• As part of standard budget procedures, council authorized the borough manager to obtain a $250,000 tax anticipation loan.

• Councilman Ed Stewart, 79, who was unsuccessful in his bid for a second term, said farewell Dec. 12. He had held public office since 1986.

Mr. Stewart, served as mayor from 1986 through 2001 before losing to Ivan Hull. He was elected to a four-year term on council in 2003.

Officials from the offices of state Rep. Tom Petrone, D-Crafton Heights, and state Sen. Wayne Fontana, D-Brookline, presented Mr. Stewart with proclamations acknowledging his career and years of service.

The Crafton Public Library recognized Mr. Stewart's dedication to the community by declaring him a lifetime honorary Friend of the Library.

Councilman Dan Cindric even suggested that the borough should rename Black's Bridge after Mr. Stewart for his commitment to the borough and its residents. Mr. Stewart humbly rejected the idea.

Mr. Stewart said that he was overwhelmed and honored by the tributes and accolades. He also expressed his appreciation to his fellow council members, borough employees, and the police and fire departments for their work.

The township has launched a new Economic Development Web site for business owners and developers interested in locating in Moon.

The site, www.mooneconomicdevelopment.com, lists residential and commercial building projects, available office space and building sites, organizations that provide business assistance, transportation development, Moon demographics and amenities, and the planning process.

It also has an interactive map of properties. Information about each site is listed with a link to the developers' Web site.

And, there's a section devoted to University Boulevard, featuring new construction projects and recent building renovations as well as the overlay district ordinances affecting the University Boulevard and Carnot districts.

The township's $1.3 million budget keeps the tax rate at 4.75 mills and overall spending is essentially the same as in 2007. Health-care costs rose but not as much as anticipated and $118,000 has been set aside for concrete street resurfacing, said township Secretary Denise Moore.

Commissioners were divided last Thursday in approving a $9.1 million budget, which is balanced by $1.5 million in unspent, unreserved money.

The new spending plan allows the township to retain the real estate tax levy at 4.913 mills and the library millage at 0.087 mill.

The budget vote was 5-2, with Commissioners Jean O'Toole and Jim Walther opposed. Commissioners David Calabria and David Jason were absent.

Mr. Walther said after the meeting that he considers the budget incomplete because it lacks raises for some employees, as well as resolution of a new contract with the public works department.

"The puzzle is not complete when all the pieces aren't there," he said.

Mrs. O'Toole concurred, but added she also was upset with grant money being used for take-home cars for a number of management personnel, the use of grant money to develop an amphitheater at Scott Park and a $10,000 expenditure to erect a wall dividing the combined office of the public service supervisor and building/code enforcement officer.

"There are just so many little things that bother me," Mrs. O'Toole said.

Board President Tom Castello endorsed the budget, stating at the meeting that the new spending plan shows a healthy financial picture for the township while providing a range of good services to residents.

Major expenditures are: police, $2.56 million; public works, $1.58 million; health and sanitation, $758,862; fire protection, $528,471; general administration, $518,379; parks, $512,053; tax collection, $324,766; pool, $289,662; debt service and tax anticipation, $282,482; building maintenance, $254,575; professional services, $210,000; and miscellaneous, $941,749.

• The recently approved deferred retirement option plan, which allows eligible participants to accumulate lump sums for retirement for four years, now has two participants -- police Chief Stanley Butkus Jr. and police Officer Harry W. "Buzz" Devlin Jr.

Officer Devlin submitted deferred retirement papers Sunday, with a projected retirement date of Dec. 29, 2011. Chief Butkus, who was given a reverse DROP pension benefit, will retire Jan. 30, though officials said he has already vacated his office and is taking unused vacation time.

Chief Butkus, who spent more than 40 years with the police department and was born and raised in the township, was a sergeant when he was named the township's top cop in May 2003.

He was not at last week's meeting and could not be reached for comment.

Another Scott police veteran, James Secreet, was named acting deputy chief in September.

• Traffic volumes will be re-examined at Ryan Drive and Greentree Road with the understanding that, if the state Department of Transportation says a traffic signal is needed, the township would have one year to come up with the money to pay for it.

So far, the number of reportable accidents at that location has not met state criteria for a traffic signal.

Commissioner David Henderson, who was attending his last meeting as an elected official, voted no, stating, "I think we need to be careful because I'm not sure all of the residents want a restricted left turn."

He went on to say that the state could decide to disallow left-hand turns at the intersection.

• Scott Conservancy President Jane Sorcan announced that the conservancy has a signed sales agreement to purchase 5.56 acres of abutting land off of Vanderbilt Drive in Mt. Lebanon, for additional green and destination point space.