C-hill residents: No increase in municipal taxes for 2017

Dec. 27--Chestnuthill Township residents will not face a municipal tax increase in 2017.

The township adopted a budget Dec. 20 of 6.45 mills, unchanged from 2016. The budget includes 5.2 mills for Chestnuthill Township's municipal and road budget, a 1 mill dedicated fire tax for the West End Fire Company, .25 mills dedicated EMS tax for the West End Fire Company, and .25 mills dedicated EMS tax for the West End Ambulance.

To simplify it for residents, for every $25,000 of real estate tax assessment, or one-quarter of the county's total assessed value, $130 will be collected by the township for its municipal/road budget, $25 will be distributed to the West End Fire Company and $6.25 will be distributed to the West End Ambulance.

"The Volunteer West End Fire Company and West End Ambulance both offer critical services to the residents of Chestnuthill Township," Manager Dave Albright said. "The dedicated real estate tax structure added in 2015 has provided dedicated funding that is solely used to maintain and acquire emergency equipment, vehicles and facilities, all of which benefit the residents and businesses of Chestnuthill Township."

The 2017 budget includes projects to maintain and improve infrastructure for roads, bridges, emergency services, parks, recycling and historical resources, Albright said.

"We continue to pursue grant dollars for capital improvement projects.

Budgeted expenditures are slightly higher next year. The forecasted spending totals $5,860,944 in 2017 compared to $5,813,602 in 2016. Albright said that number is higher primarily because of an increase in liquid fuel funding and the number of grants being pursued.

The largest contributor to revenues is the earned income tax, bringing in $1,540,000, or 26 percent of total revenues. The tax is a refundable tax credit on behalf of low to moderate income working individuals and couples, particularly those with children.

Twenty percent, or $ 1,170,500 million of the township's revenue comes from real estate taxes. Seventeen percent, or $976,077 is from state shared revenue.

Grants bring in 13 percent of all revenues, or $765,105. That includes the local share assessment from the gaming funds for economic development projects, a transportation revitalization grant, recycling and hazardous materials grants, a $218,200 grant for Lake Mineola Road, $130,000 for salt sheds, a $91,000 grant for the American Legion and a grant of $176,000 for a basketball and dog park.

Other sources, including fines, forfeits, interest earnings, public safety and recycling will bring in $475,975, or 8 percent of the budgeted revenues.

The township is drawing $482,447 to balance the budget.

On the expense side, the largest spending category is for highways and streets, which accounted for 37 percent, or $2,169,549 of next year's budget.

General government expenses made up 18 percent, or $1,055,039 of all expenditures.

Debt Payments, Insurance, and Taxes made up 16 percent of the budgeted spending, or $917,570. Public safety accounted for 14 percent of the budget, or $855,800.

Other expense categories include culture and recreation, community development and capital projects.

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