Mahanoy Township adopts budget with 3-mill tax hike

Dec. 17--MAHANOY CITY -- The Mahanoy Township supervisors formally adopted the 2017 general operating budget that increases real estate taxes by 3 mills.

The supervisors voted 3-0 at Thursday's meeting for the spending plan, which was tentatively adopted at the November meeting. The tax millage in 2017 will increase from 9.09 to 12.09 mills.

A separate vote was held to adopt the ordinance to raise the millage rate. Supervisor Jason Dudash made the motion to adopt, seconded by Chairman James Stevens. Voting against was Vice Chairwoman Faith Ward.

The budget has total revenues at $447,887 and total expenditures at $447,397, leaving a surplus of $480.

The proposed tax increase was advertised in October after that month's meeting before any budget adoptions were made to inform township residents about the plan. After that meeting, Stevens said an increase was considered in order to keep up with expenses and prevent fiscal problems in the future.

In his explanation, Stevens said the real estate tax had not increased in eight years, and it was in the township's interest not to place itself in a detrimental financial position that other municipalities are facing.

The additional revenue will help meet some increased expenses now and in the future. Stevens said the police department has increased in recent years, and there are road projects that are needed that cannot completely be funded through the state liquid fuels annual allotment.

The budget estimates revenue from taxes -- real estate, LST, per capita, earned income and realty transfer -- at $336,300 ($295,500 in 2016), and licenses and permit fees, fines and interest income at $14,960 ($14,910 in 2016). Additional funds of $96,617 will come from other sources, including $40,300 from wind turbines (same as in 2016), for an overall total of $447,397. The revenue estimate for 2016 was $366,710.

The total estimated expenditures of $447,397 ($366,552 in 2016) are broken down as follows:

--General government -- salaries, engineering fees, taxes, dues and building expenses: $98,582 ($99,852 in 2016).

--Public safety -- police salaries and expenses, fire protection, planning/zoning/code enforcement and emergency management: $140,695 ($128,300 in 2016).

--Public works -- sanitation, professional services; road crew wages and supplies, sewer enforcement, parks and insurance: $208,120 ($138,400 in 2016).

The liquid fuels budget is $109,850 ($90,349 in 2016) in revenue and $109,700 ($90,300 in 2016) in expenditures, leaving a surplus of $150.

Township secretary/treasurer Cheryl Backo read the ARRO Consulting Inc. engineering report from project manager William N. McMullen for activities from Nov. 16 to Dec. 13. McMullen reported that the storm drainage improvement in the villages of Morea and New Boston have been completed by Skytop Coal Co. ARRO instructed Skytop to forward all project and product documents and an invoice to the township for review and approval. McMullen wrote that an application for payment and the supporting documents have not been received at this time.

McMullen also provided the following code enforcement:

--No response was received from the owner of 41 High Road, Park Place, regarding the quality of life citations issued for the accumulation of animal waste on the property. Following consultations with Mahanoy Township solicitor Eric Lieberman, ARRO personnel are preparing non-traffic citations to be filed on the property owner with the local magisterial district judge.

--Enforcement actions have begun for the structure located at 121 Lower St., Morea. Certified mail was returned as unclaimed. Non-traffic citations will be filed regarding the unanswered violation.

--A list of potential structures for demolition has been compiled and submitted to the county for inclusion in an application for demolition funding.

In other matters, the supervisors approved the accounting firm of Jones and Co., Pottsville, to conduct the 2016 audit.

The supervisors appointed Stevens as a member of the Mahanoy Township Authority board. Stevens will serve on the water authority to fill the vacancy left by Sharon Chiao, whose term ends Dec. 31. The motion to appoint Stevens was made by Dudash, seconded by Stevens. Ward voted against the appointment.

Stevens thanked everyone who was involved the Christmas party held earlier this month by the township recreation committee. Stevens also thanked resident Kathy Sierdzinski for the donation of the live Christmas tree for the municipal building.

"We are still looking for volunteers for the recreation committee," Stevens said. "People can stop in any time and let us know about their interest. All help will be appreciated."

Stevens said the township road crew will collect Christmas trees from residents in January. Residents are asked to put their trees out and the crew will pick them up, weather-permitting.

Patrolman Jonathon Troyer gave the monthly police report, after which he reminded residents to be careful with ice and snow in the coming days.

The supervisors will hold their reorganization meeting at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 3, which will be immediately followed by the regular monthly meeting. The supervisors will not meet on Jan. 20. The next regular meeting will be Feb. 16. The supervisors also set the supervisors' meeting dates on the third Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in 2017 at the municipal building, 1010 W. Centre St.

___

(c)2016 the Republican & Herald (Pottsville, Pa.)

Visit the Republican & Herald (Pottsville, Pa.) at republicanherald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.