Tarentum is a historic riverfront community located along the Allegheny River in northeastern Allegheny County. The community’s roots extend to the early 1700s, when a Shawnee village was established near the mouth of Bull Creek. Judge Henry Marie Brackenridge founded the town of Tarentum in 1829 following completion of the Pennsylvania Canal. Tarentum was formally incorporated as a borough on March 7, 1842, with a population of approximately 300 residents.
Today, Tarentum continues to build upon its history as an industrial and commercial center of the Allegheny Valley. The Borough provides a broad range of municipal services, including police protection, water and electric utilities, public works, code enforcement, recreation, community development, and other essential services.
Tarentum operates under a Council Manager form of government that combines the policy leadership of elected officials with the professional administration of an appointed Borough Manager.
Borough Council is the Borough’s governing and legislative body. Council consists of seven elected members. Two members represent each of Tarentum’s three wards, and one member is elected at large to represent the entire Borough. Council establishes public policy, adopts ordinances and resolutions, approves the annual budget, sets tax and utility rates, authorizes contracts and major expenditures, and determines the Borough’s priorities.
Council appoints the Borough Manager to serve as the Borough’s chief administrative officer. The Borough Manager carries out the policies and directives established by Council and oversees the daily operation of the municipal government. This includes managing Borough departments and employees, preparing and administering the budget, coordinating projects, overseeing municipal finances and contracts, and ensuring that public services are delivered effectively.
The Council Manager structure provides a clear division of responsibilities. Council determines what the Borough’s policies and priorities will be, while the Borough Manager is responsible for putting those decisions into action and managing daily operations.
The Mayor is elected by residents throughout the Borough and serves as Tarentum’s elected executive and ceremonial representative.
Under Pennsylvania Borough law, the Mayor has specific responsibilities related to the police department and public safety. The Mayor may attend Council meetings and participate in discussions concerning Borough matters, but is not a member of Council. The Mayor may cast a vote in certain situations when Council is tied and also reviews ordinances and resolutions adopted by Council, with the authority to approve or veto them as provided by law.
The Mayor also represents the Borough at public events, community ceremonies, and official functions. Through this role, the Mayor helps connect residents with their local government and serves as an ambassador for the Tarentum community.
Read more about the current Tarentum Borough Mayor.
Borough Council consists of seven members elected by the residents of Tarentum. Two Council members represent each of the Borough’s three wards, while one member is elected at large to represent the entire community. Council members serve four year terms, with elections staggered to provide continuity in Borough government.
Council serves as Tarentum’s governing and legislative body. Its responsibilities include adopting ordinances and resolutions, approving the annual budget, establishing tax and utility rates, authorizing contracts and major expenditures, and setting policies and priorities for the Borough. Council also appoints the Borough Manager and provides oversight of the Borough’s administration.
Council members represent the interests and concerns of residents while making decisions that affect the entire Borough. Through public meetings, committee work, and community engagement, Council provides policy leadership and ensures that Tarentum’s resources and services are managed responsibly.
CBAs
Tarentum Borough maintains Collective Bargaining Agreements with the Police Department and the Non Uniformed employees.
Tarentum Borough audit reports are available on the Finance page of our website. Please click here for more information.
Budgets
The past and present Tarentum Borough annual budgets can be found on the Finance Department web page.