No tax increase for West Mahanoy Township residents

Nov. 19--SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS -- The West Mahanoy Township supervisors tentatively adopted Tuesday the 2016 operating budget that includes no increase in real estate taxes.

The budget is balanced at $1,656,900 and keeps the real estate tax at 7.15 mills. The 2015 budget is $1,614,200.

The 7.15 mills includes 5.9 mills dedicated for general purposes and 1.25 mills for public safety. Each mill brings in $42,850 in revenue. For every $100 in assessed valuation, taxes are 71.5 cents. The budget was adopted in a 3-0 vote.

"There is no tax increase, and the budget didn't change much from last year," township Secretary-Treasurer Michael B. Michalik said. "The budget is still open because of ongoing negotiations on contracts with all full-time employees."

The township's full-time employees include Michalik, three road workers and two police officers. The township also has four part-time police officers, two part-time office workers, a part-time custodian and a part-time building inspector.

Michalik said there were increases in some expenses, but they were partially offset by reductions in related areas.

"Health insurance costs went up, but we did lose one full-time employee and didn't replace him," Michalik said. "Repairs are down since we have two new trucks."

Earlier this year, the township purchased two new 2015 Ford F550 dump trucks with plows to replace two aging trucks.

Michalik said the current financial situations is good and will transfer into the new year.

"We're taking more cash into next year," Michalik said. "We're also expecting more money from the state liquid fuels allotment next year. We're estimating that it will be an increase of about $10,000."

The supervisors voted to advertise the tentative budget to be formally adopted at 7 p.m. at the Dec. 15 meeting.

In other business, the supervisors approved two repository sales by the Schuylkill County Tax Claim Bureau:

--212 Virginia Ave., Shenandoah Heights, to BWH Properties LLC on a bid of $754.

--159 S. Line St., Altamont, to G.F. Real Estate Developers Inc. on a bid of $2,500.

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