Hazle Twp. holds line on taxes

Dec. 15--Hazle Township Supervisors adopted an estimated $4.1 million budget on Monday that contains no tax or fee increases for 2016.

The supervisors had little to say when ratifying the spending plan, which keeps property tax rates at 0.75 mills.

Chairman Jim Montone reminded a small group of people who attended a meeting Monday that the tax rate will not change for the upcoming year.

Big-ticket revenue line items include $925,000 in property taxes, an estimated $300,000 in real estate transfer taxes, another $925,000 in earned income tax and $500,000 in anticipated local services/emergency and municipal services taxes.

Having collected more than $179,000 in building permit fees this year, the township trimmed projections to $150,000 for the upcoming year.

Revenue estimates also account for a roughly $787,000 fund balance from 2015.

The spending plan consists of six pages of anticipated expenses, which are highlighted with $7,500 in total compensation for the supervisors; $32,000 worth of commissions budgeted for the earned income tax collector; $60,000 for solicitor fees, and another $40,000 for clerical salaries.

Officials earmarked $58,000 for the code enforcement officer's salary; another $15,000 for code enforcement deputies and $128,000 for building inspector wages.

Officials budgeted $60,000 for the roadmaster's salary and another $350,000 for road crew salaries.

Winter-related expenses total $190,000 and consist of $120,000 for anti-skid material and salt; $40,000 for snow and ice removal and another $30,000 for contracted snow-removal services, according to the spending plan.

Officials reserved $600,000 for contracted services and road materials for the upcoming year, an increase of about $45,000 when compared with actual money spent so far this year.

Employee hospitalization and life insurance, as well as an insurance package policy and worker's compensation are budgeted at a combined $520,000 for the upcoming year -- a $30,000 increase when compared with this year's budget.

Garbage fees

Northeast Revenue, which has worked with the township in the past for collecting delinquent taxes, got the nod to begin collecting delinquent garbage fees.

The supervisors voted unanimously to appoint the firm as officials are working to update a computer system.

When completed in January, customers will be able to pay garbage bills with credit/debit cards or by check, Montone said.

Montone said the township brought in the collection agency because efforts in the past to crack down on trash customers who have fallen behind on bills have been unsuccessful.

In the past, the township would send letters informing residents when they've fallen behind on garbage bills.

The problem, he said, is that residents have been ignoring the correspondences.

"It's time to pay the piper," Montone said. "If anyone is delinquent we're going to get aggressive."

Northeast Revenue fees are tacked onto customers with delinquent accounts, Montone said. In effect, the firm will offer its services at no cost to customers who are current on bills, he said.

Fees are assessed on a percentage of the amounts due to the township, Supervisor Francis "Butch" Boyarski said.

Supervisor William Gallagher said the total amount of delinquents "is not exceptional," but said outstanding balances tend to build when 10 to 20 people fail to pay bills.

Montone said he should have a total amount of outstanding payments available when the supervisors meet in January.

"We have the lowest garbage fees in the county," Montone said. "They are $45 per quarter, or $15 per month. It doesn't get any better than that."

Gallagher, however, said the amount is nowhere near what other communities are working to collect.

"It's nothing like other places that have $200,000 (in outstanding fees)," he said.

Thanks

The supervisors recognized Mike Mandak Tree Service for donating a live Christmas tree located at Community Park.

The board also acknowledged Kingston Fire Department's donation to Hazle Township Volunteer Fire & Rescue. Firefighters in Kingston thanked Hazle crews for sending Hazle's tanker truck to Kingston recently as that community dealt with a water main break, Gallagher said.

While tankers from Hazle and Foster townships were stationed in Kingston on standby, they were dispatched to a fire, Gallagher said.

Kingston crews expressed their thanks by offering a nominal donation.

Montone said he also received a letter of thanks from the Kingston department.

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