Hazle Twp. passes $5M budget; bids farewell to supervisor

Dec. 13--HAZLE TWP. -- Supervisors ratified a roughly $5 million budget that contains no tax or fee increases.

Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt the spending plan that has been available for public inspection since November -- a plan that keeps the property tax rate at 0.75 mills in the upcoming year.

The budget projects a fund balance of just over $205,000 at the conclusion of 2018, with $5,151,500 in anticipated revenue expected to outpace $4,946,050 in expenses.

When releasing the budget for review in November, township representatives said they took a conservative approach to budgeting revenue. The budget also accounts for a $1,024,000 grant from the state's Multimodal Transportation Fund and a roughly $439,000 local match that will pay for a project to extend Hazle Twp. Boulevard to meet Route 93 at Deer Run Road.

Since the road extension project is expected to begin in spring, the grant and matching funds will be carried into 2018.

Tax collections account for most of the big-ticket revenue line items, with the township anticipating $950,000 in real estate tax revenue in 2018, another $85,000 in property taxes collected from previous years, about $300,000 in real estate transfer tax revenue, $925,000 in earned income tax revenue and $500,000 collected from the Local Services Tax.

Officials also budgeted $180,000 in building permit fees for the upcoming year, which is less than the $218,334 collected so far this year.

Expenditures, meanwhile, total just under $5 million and consist of $7,500 for supervisors' compensation, a $5,000 commission for the tax collector, another $33,000 in commissions for the earned income tax collector and $70,000 for township solicitor.

Officials also earmarked $68,000 for the code enforcement officer's salary; another $130,000 in wages for building inspectors; $20,000 in legal services for the planning department; and $15,000 in legal services for the zoning hearing board. Engineering services for the planning department are budgeted at $50,000, the salary for the roadmaster at $62,000, and road crew salaries at $375,000.

Other notable expenses include $100,000 for anti-skid material and salt, $80,000 for equipment maintenance and repair, $70,000 for road materials and supplies, and $550,000 for contracted services -- equipment and operators.

Insurance, including employee hospitalization, is budgeted at $470,000.

When asked by supervisors Chairman Jim Montone for an update on the Hazle Twp. Boulevard extension project, Chris Pecora, from Schumacher Engineering, said a traffic study has been turned over to state transportation officials for review.

Montone asked if the project will be ready for bid by spring at the latest, prompting Pecora to suggest building a three-lane bridge over a creek that could accommodate future expansion.

Montone and Supervisor William Gallagher objected to the idea, with Montone asking why the township would want to spend money building a three-lane bridge for a two-lane road.

"It's a waste of money," Gallagher said.

Montone said that while he understands that larger-scale projects often require approval of change orders, or requests to pay for work that falls outside of the original scope, he said he has no intention of exceeding the grant and local match that the township originally budgeted for the project.

Montone insisted on having specifications ready for bid by spring at the latest.

"It's going to be ugly in the spring if that's not finished," he told the engineer.

"I'll second that," Gallagher added.

Both Montone and Supervisor Francis "Butch" Boyarski publicly acknowledged Gallagher for his service to the township.

Gallagher, who served as a supervisor for 12 years and another 18 years as a member of the zoning board, did not run for re-election.

Montone and Boyarski asked Gallagher if he wanted to say a few words before they adjourned.

"It's the end of my 12 years," Gallagher said jokingly. "Thank God. I had a lot of fun and, a lot of times, it was a pain in the ass."

Boyarski shook hands with Gallagher while Montone said the supervisors will officially recognize Gallagher at the reorganization meeting.

"It's been an interesting ride," Gallagher said prior to making a motion to adjourn.

When asked for his vote to adjourn, Gallagher answered "absolutely."

Contact the writer: sgalski

@standardspeaker.com;

570-501-3586

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