GOVERNMENT IN UPPER ST. CLAIR
MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY
Municipal Authorities, created by a State Act in 1945, gave municipalities the power to borrow money for capital improvements.
The Municipal Authority of Upper St. Clair, created in 1954-1955, has a five member Board, with five year staggered terms, appointed by the Board of Commissioners.
Prior to the formation of the Municipal Authority acquiring money for major capital projects was virtually impossible. Our present Municipal Authority, as an agency of the state, cannot act alone but acts in response to the needs of the Township. The Municipal Authority can borrow up to 250 percent of the annual municipal budget whereas previously the Township had no borrowing power.
The first project of the Upper St. Clair Municipal Authority was the McLaughlin Run trunk sewer entered into as a joint project along with Bethel Park, Bridgeville, all connecting with the ALCOSAN interceptor in Bridgeville. Later the sewer system was expanded to the subdivisions and streets in Upper St. Clair, providing an alternative to the backyard septic systems then in use. The project was completed in 1960.
The Authority also financed the construction of the Chartiers Creek Sanitary Trunk sewer to serve the lower Boyce Road area and the original Township Building in addition to Fort Couch Middle School and Johnston Elementary (now Wesley Institute). A future project being discussed is the development of Boyce-Mayview Park.
The Municipal Authority of Upper St. Clair is unusual in that it is only a financing authority, unlike many municipal authorities that operate utilities, such as water authorities.
The Authority finances its projects by selling bonds guaranteed by the taxing power of the community. Since 1955, the Municipal Authority has financed a total of $100-$150 million in capital projects.
The original Authority met monthly; presently the Authority meets only when needed.
Municipal Authority Board
Listed below are the members of the Civil Service Board and the expiration date of their term.
| C. James Parks, Chairman |
| Russell L. Crane |
| Robert J. Ridge |
| T. A. Ward |
Township of Upper St. Clair
1820 McLaughlin Run Road · Upper St.Clair, Pennsylvania 15241 · Phone: 412.831.9000 · Fax: 412.831.9882
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