New Resident Guide

Billing Procedures

The Brighton Township Municipal Authority (BTMA) and Brighton Township Sewage Authority (BTSA) bill jointly for water and sewer service. Bills are sent monthly to each account. The monthly base charge for a residential account is $38.50 for water and $44.00 for sewer. The Township is divided into three billing districts, and each month one district has a water meter reading. Therefore, each meter is read once every quarter (every three months) or four times per year. Any use over 12,000 gallons is classified as excess usage and is billed at a rate of $8.00 per 1,000 gallons of excess water and $11.00 per 1,000 gallons of excess sewage.

The bill shows a gross amount and a net amount. The net amount is the amount billed and due on the date shown on the left-hand portion of the bill. The gross amount is the amount due if payment is made after the due date, and includes a 10% penalty for late payment. Payment can be made with a single check made payable to “BTMA/BTSA” at the Municipal Building office, 1300 Brighton Road, between 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, through the payment drop after hours and on weekends or holidays or by mail.  Please enclose the payment stub with your payment.

The following codes will appear on your bill:

On the month your meter is read the bill will show a Previous Reading, Present Reading, Consumption in Thousands, Code and Amount.  Any questions can be handled by calling (724) 774-4800 during regular business hours.

Emergency Notification System Established

Residents Asked to Update Contact Information

To comply with PA DEP Public Notification Rules the Municipal Authority has implemented the services of Smart911 as its emergency notification provider through PA Rural Water Association.

The Smart911 system is provided by Rave Mobile Safety and is designed to make phone calls on a Township-wide basis, or to specific people or areas, in the event of an emergency, and can make hundreds of calls a minute to convey recorded messages. It can also be used to share important information. The system is also available for use by emergency services or other Township Departments who can give notice of road closures, missing persons or other information.

It is important for residents and business owners to verify the accuracy of the information provided to us, and to provide additional contact information such as unlisted, unpublished or cell phone numbers and even email addresses. Accurate information in the database helps to ensure emergency notifications will be passed on to everyone in a timely manner.

ADD / UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION

Please go to www.smart911.com to add, remove or update your information. Be assured that this information will not be provided to any outside agencies or companies.

Need to Get Rid of E-Scrap (i.e. TV or Computer)?

Refuse landfills are rejecting items referred to as E-Scrap, such as televisions, computers monitors and related items, and these items are not collected as part of the Township’s curbside refuse program.  Electronic equipment often contains toxic materials such as lead, mercury and cadmium.  When not properly managed, there is a risk of groundwater and drinking water contamination, air pollution and more.  Fortunately, these items can be disposed of at the Beaver County Recycling Center located in Brady’s Run Park for a fee.  Some of the common items they accept are as follows:

• Monitors and TVs
• Laptop and tower computers
• Battery Back-Up Unit
• Keyboards
• Printer/Desk Top Copier
• Scanner
• Fax Machine/size variation
• Smaller Fax
• VCR
• Large Copiers
• Fluorescent Tubes/Compact Fluorescent Bulbs

For more information, contact the Beaver County Department of Waste Management at 724-770-2066 or the Brady’s Run Park Recycling Center at 724-770-2064.  Prices are subject to change.

Brady’s Run Recycling Center:
469 Constitution Blvd
New Brighton, PA  15066

Sewer Deduct Meters Available

The Brighton Township Sewage Authority (BTSA), in cooperation with the Brighton Township Municipal Authority (BTMA), have made a program available to water customers to have a separate meter installed to measure the flow of water that does not enter the sanitary sewer system. This meter typically reads water used outside for watering lawns or gardens, washing vehicles or filling swimming pools. This sewer deduct meter is read at the same time as your water meter at the end of each quarter. The reading on the sewer meter is deducted from the excess use based on the water meter reading. The minimum amount billed during each quarter remains at twelve thousand gallons. Absent a sewer meter, no credit will be given for outside water use, such as filling your swimming pool or watering the lawn and garden.

The one-time cost of the additional meter is three hundred fifty dollars ($350.00). This fee was recently increased to cover the cost of the meter and fittings used in the installation.  All inside plumbing revisions will be at the expense of the owner and are subject to inspection prior to meter installation. Payment in advance to BTMA is required. Applications for sewer meter installation are available within the Resident’s Center on the Water & Sewage Authorities Page or the Application & Forms Page of the Township web site.

Refuse & Recycling Program

Brighton Township entered into a contract with J. Young Refuse for the collection of all residential refuse and recycling within Brighton Township. Contact information is as follows:

John H. Young, Jr.
J. Young Refuse
6129 Tuscarawas Road
Industry, PA  15052
(724) 495-6199

Effective January 1, 2025 the collection rate will be $12.77 per month for a quarterly total of $38.31

Remember that additional fees are assessed for services other than curbside collection (backyard or at door service where specific contract restrictions apply) or streets that were not specified for curb service in the bid contract.

Mandatory Participation – Each residential unit is required to participate in the contracted refuse and recycling collection program. Brighton Township is also mandated by State law to provide curbside collection of recyclables to each residential unit. Township ordinance requires mandatory participation in these programs. As the contracted hauler provides the Township with the names and addresses of non-participants, notices will be sent. Continued non-participation can result in the filing of an enforcement notice with potential fines of not less than $100 or more than $600, plus costs of prosecution, for each violation.

Additional Items Added to Curbside Recycling Program – In addition to newspapers and glossy paper magazines, you may now include phone books, manila & brown folders, junk mail and all paper to your curbside collection items.  All plastic containers labeled #1-7 can be included with your commingled items.  Please exclude Styrofoam type takeout food containers.  Aseptic containers (milk cartons) may be added as well.  Continue to recycle clear, brown and green bottles and jars, aluminum, bi-metal and tin food and beverage containers, and aluminum foil.  Please refer to the Recycling Is Easy graphic for more information on what can be recycled and the proper way to prepare your recycling materials!

Crush & Flatten Recycled Materials – With more items able to be recycled and the increase in participation, it is more important than ever to crush and/or flatten plastic containers, aseptic containers, and any other items that can be flattened.  These type of containers and items take up a lot of space and limit the volume of recycling that can be collected within the recycling truck.  Crushing and flattening the recycled items reduces the time and cost associated with the collection of our recycling.

Electronics Are Not Accepted for Curbside Waste Collection – Enacted in 2010, provision of the Pennsylvania Covered Device Recycling Act came into effect in 2013.  No person may dispose of a covered device or any of its components with their municipal solid waste.  These devices and their components must be properly recycled and may not be taken to, nor accepted by, landfills for disposal.  Covered electronic devices include computers, laptops, monitors, televisions, cell phones, usp batteries and related equipment such as modems, routers, networking equipment, etc.

Beaver County Department of Waste Management Recycling Center in Bradys Run Park will also accept electronic equipment for a fee. For more information call the Brady’s Run Park Recycling Center at 724-770-2064.

Excluded Items – Contract specifications require the collection of rubbish and other bulky waste. Bulky waste includes appliances, furniture, furnishings, rugs/carpets (when cut in lengths of not more than 4-feet and placed in rolls), toilets, and other items. However, there are items excluded from collection. Following is a list of items excluded from curbside collection as part of the contract. However, this list should not be considered as a final complete list, as there is always the chance that an unforeseen circumstance or item has not been considered. Refuse should be placed for collection in bags not exceeding 40 pounds or 40 gallons in size.

Excluded items are: Tires, Yard Waste, Christmas Trees, Construction Debris, Vehicle Parts or Batteries, Paints, Liquids or Fluids and Hazardous Wastes. Loose debris must be in a box or bag. The contractor will not be required to pick-up loose debris. No steel or iron posts or rods that may damage garbage packers. Contractors are not expected to dismantle items placed out for collection. Items specified as items to be separated for recycling are not to be commingled with refuse for the purpose of being discarded.

Items containing Freon gas will not be picked up unless the gas or other cooling material has been properly removed in accordance with applicable laws and proof is provided to the collector.

Recycling – The collectors collect recycling curbside every other week. Residents are to use an easily identifiable green container for placement of the recycling. Holes should be placed in the bottom of the container for drainage.  Please do not fill large containers so that they become a risk for injury to the collector.  Recycling bins are available for purchase at the Township Office for a cost of $10.00. Recycling is mandatory under state law and enforceable by Township ordinance. Recyclable items that are prepared improperly, or are mixed with household refuse, will not be collected, or will be disposed of with the refuse. Each of you can help improve the success rate of the Township’s recycling program.

Brighton Township began recycling in 1992. Each new dwelling is furnished with one barrel. This barrel remains the property of Brighton Township and must remain at the residence if you move. Your recycling container is to be used for recycling only. Additional barrels or replacement barrels may be purchased from the Township for a fee of $10.00.

Christmas Trees are an excluded item in the Township’s refuse collection contract. However, residents can drop off Christmas trees at no charge at the Township’s yard waste site located at 1250 Brighton Road. Trees must be removed from any tree bag and have all tinsel or other decorations removed.

Leaf Waste Collection – Brighton Township provides a curbside collection program in the fall and spring for leaf waste to comply with, and implement, State regulations that mandate curbside recycling, including yard waste.

The collection of leaves and yard waste has been established as a fee-based program whereby residents purchase biodegradable paper collection bags at a cost of $2.00 each within which the leaves, garden residues, shrubbery clippings or tree trimmings must be placed. Bags must be placed at the curb on collection days to be designated. Bags are pre-sold at the Municipal Building. Bags utilized must be purchased from the Township, and not be from another source, such as a home improvement store. Watch for the announcement of the collection dates and when the leaf bags will be available for purchase.

Participation in the curbside collection program is optional. With 75 miles of roads, curbside collection of leaves and other yard waste is a significant undertaking for the Township, and is costly, in terms of labor and equipment operation. Therefore, it is hoped that many homeowners will continue to use the drop-off site, or compost the leaves in their own yards. The yard waste drop-off site operates year-round on an annual permit basis.

Yard Waste and Composting

Brighton Township provides a location at the Public Works yard site, 1250 Brighton Road, for Township residents to drop off their yard waste.  An annual permit is required which costs $15.00.  The permit runs March through February and can be obtained at the Municipal Building or purchased online.  The yard waste is processed and composted in accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection guidelines.  The compost material and mulch products are available at no cost to Township residents.  Disposal areas are designated as (1) brush and tree limbs, (2) grass and (3) leaves.  The Board of Supervisors has adopted an ordinance establishing the following rules for use at the drop off site:

1. Township residents only with a valid permit
2. The following may be dropped off at the compost site:
   1. leaves
   2. grass
   3. hedge clippings
   4. brush or tree trimmings – maximum 5’ lengths, 6” diameter
   5. Christmas trees
3. The following items are specifically prohibited;
   1. tree stumps
   2. construction materials including boards
   3. stones, brick, asphalt or concrete
   4. metal or cans
   5. plastic bags
   6. paper waste
   7. dog, cat or other animal waste
   8. garden waste (tomatoes, apples, etc.)
   9. burning barrel waste
   10. garbage or litter of any kind

Any violation of these rules is subject to a penalty of $150 and possible permit revocation.  It is important that these rules be followed so the Township may continue to operate the yard waste site at no additional costs.

Days and hours of operation for the drop off site are:

Monday through Saturday – 7:30 a.m. to sunset

Sunday – noon to sunset (NOTE:  Closed on Sundays December through March)

Stormwater Management Fee

In 2019 Brighton Township implemented a Stormwater Service Fee and appointed Berkheimer to conduct the billing and collection of the fee.  The annual fee is $66.00 for a single residential property.  Homes in a Planned Unit Development and in a Duplex or Quad will have the fee adjusted accordingly by Berkheimer.

The bills are mailed out in February and have a discount, face, and penalty pay periods.  Payments are made directly to Berkheimer.  The Township will be notified when the fee is not paid and goes delinquent.  At that time, the Township can put a lien on the property to collect the amount due including fees, costs, and interest.  This will also include additional penalties and interest.

Berkheimer can be reached by calling 1-866-309-6939.

Payment address:
HAB-MISC
PO Box 21450
Lehigh Valley, PA  18002-1450

Tax Collection

Real Estate Taxes

Real Estate Taxes are levied by three entities; Beaver County (3.67 mills), Brighton Township (2.25 mills), and Beaver Areas School District (proposed 12.99 mills)   Beaver County taxes are paid to the Beaver County Treasurer at the Court House in Beaver.  James W. Onuska is the elected Real Estate Tax Collector for Brighton Township and collects the real estate taxes for both Beaver Area School District and Brighton Township.

Municipal Building Office Hours:

Tuesdays                                 4:00 P.M to 7:00 P.M.

Fridays                                    9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.

The tax collection office is located in the lower level of the Municipal Building, 1300 Brighton Road. Mr. Onuska can be reached at 724-774-2622.

Earned Income Tax
Employed residents of Brighton Township are subject to a 10 mill (1%) tax on gross earnings.  This tax is paid to the Beaver Area School District and Brighton Township at 1/2 of 1% each.  The tax must be paid quarterly to avoid penalty.  If you are employed in the Beaver Area, it is mandatory that your employer withhold the tax and your obligation is fulfilled except for the filing of a final return by April 15^th.  However, it is the employed party’s responsibility to pay the tax so payment should be verified.  Failure to file a final return, even when no tax is due, makes individuals liable for penalty.  Payment schedules:

Earned Income Period                                     Payment is Due

1^st Qtr:  January, February, March                  On or Before the end of April

2^nd Qtr:  April, May, June                               On or Before the end of July

3^rd Qtr:  July, August, September                   On or Before the end of October

4^th Qtr:  October, November, December         On or Before the end of January

Final Return – Verification Needed                By April 15^th

The EIT Collector for Brighton Township and Beaver Area School District is Berkheimer.  The PSD Code for Brighton Township is 040303.  The Berkheimer website is www.hab-inc.com.  They can be reached at 1-866-701-7206.