(11/27) During the November 6 Hamiltonban Township Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisors approved the $970,945 General Fund budget for 2020, which included no tax increase for residents. The General Fund budget for 2020 came in much higher than last year’s budget of $718,175. Roadwork and equipment purchases were the big ticket items included in the FY20 budget.

The FY20 budget includes the purchase of a John Deere Mower Tractor at a cost of $143,000. This piece of equipment will be leased over a span of five years at a cost of approximately $32,000 for the first year and approximately $31,300 for the remaining four years. The Township has also budgeted to purchase a Brechbill Trailer at an outright cost of $7,950. Supervisor Robert Gordon noted that there might hopefully be no more equipment purchases for another two to three years.

In regards to roadwork, Township Supervisors discussed, in length, road projects over the next few years totaling over $850,000. Road and bridge projects planned for 2020 include Gum Springs Road Bridge/Road, Mt. Hope Bridge and Moritz Road. Gum Springs Road Bridge/Road repair is the most costly project, with approximately $180,000 budgeted for milling, ditch and pipe work. The Mt. Hope Bridge repair project was reduced to $30,000 after discussion led to simply beginning the process of the bridge repair in 2020. This cost in 2020 will include engineering fees and permits, etc., with the actual replacement slated for 2021. The Moritz Road project would include milling from the Upper Hillwood section and Lower Hill to the bridge at an approximate budgeted cost of $90,000. Additionally, the township budgeted $31,000 for line painting and signs throughout the township.

Additional costs in the budget include the construction of a fuel station canopy. The cost for this project is $50,000. Solicitor services were increased to $13,000 and the budget also reflected a 3% raise given to all employees.

The township is taking a break this year from continuing with repairs to the township building, in an effort to place more funds towards the roads and purchase of equipment. In the future, however, the township hopes to continue repairs to the township building by bringing it up to code. This will include enlarging the office meeting room by removing two bathrooms and adding new flooring and chairs, installing new hallway lighting, and resurfacing of the parking lot. New office equipment to replace the outdated equipment may also be budgeted in the future.

Liberty Township, on the other hand, is looking to pass their $349,902 2020 budget with a 0.125 mil tax increase. The tax increase was intended to help allocate funds for the repair of many of the township’s roads without hurting the pockets of residents or dipping too much into the Capital Reserve account.

Originally, Supervisor Mickey Barlow proposed a 1% tax increase in order to keep up with road maintenance demands throughout the township’s roads. “The township roads are continuing to deplete,” stated Barlow. “We are $700,000 in the hole in maintenance with the township’s roads… and have had no tax increase in fifteen years.” [prior to last year’s tax increase] He finished by stating that the tax increase last year didn’t even cover half of the road master’s salary. However, after much discussion and debate amongst fellow Supervisors and residents, Supervisors settled on a 1/8 of a mill tax increase, with Barlow against. An additional $20,364.84 will be going toward the township’s revenue with this tax increase on board. The township may continue to keep this 0.125 of a mil tax increase over the next few years, working up to a 1% tax increase. The final budget will be approved at the December 17 meeting.

In other budget related news, Carroll Valley is looking to pass their 2020 budget in December as well, without a tax increase. The Borough’s tax rate has remained the same since 2013 at 2.45 mills, or .00245 of assessed value of land and buildings. During the November Borough Council meeting, some Council members showed dissent with one item in the budget which will give members of the Police Department Cost of Living salary increases that are non merit based. The budget was advertised and will be voted upon during the December meeting.