Streak of No Tax Increases Might Continue in East Franklin
East Franklin Township supervisors review the tentative budget reports at last night’s budget workshop. No tax increase or rate increases are expected, but any are expected to be announced at the next public meeting November 25.
By Jonathan Weaver
For at least the past 12 years, East Franklin Township residents haven’t had their taxes raised – and that streak is on the cusp of continuing.
As discussed during their budget meeting last night, general and state fund accounts - as well as financial figures budgeted for the four sewage treatment plants – will all be paid off in 2015 without raising real estate taxes.
Residents currently pay six mills of taxes.
“The General Fund looks pretty good,” Township Secretary/Treasurer Debra Cornman said at the beginning of the budget workshop. “The budget is $46,000 to the good.”
Income from real estate taxes has increased during the past three years – from more than $440,000 to already more than $457,000 in 2014 – as has delinquent real estate taxes (which has increased more than $11,000 to $31,000 in the same time span).
“There are a lot of delinquents out there – there are six pages of people,” Cornman said.
Add that with prior property taxes collected by Tax Collector Roger Reitler and the municipality brought in more than $500,000 in property tax income in 2014. It is estimated about $477,000 will come in 2015 – about $76,000 per mill.
Supervisor Chair Barry Peters credited the success to employment and businesses in the municipality, as well as the tax revenue.
“We’re doing pretty good for money,” Peters said. “Numbers don’t lie. Once we get the building paid off, we’ll be really good.”
Last year’s budget of $2.3 million was higher due to the loan secured to build the new township municipal building/police station – which opened at the beginning of the calendar year.
Township Engineer Ken Howard of Bankson Engineering was paid more than $52,000 this year largely due to the construction effort.
No raises were given to elected officials and salaries to Police Sgt. William Evans and Officer Robert Gahagan remain the same. A pair of part-time maintenance employees earns $16.10 per hour and Roadmaster Ron Lithgow will earn more than $38,000 after an expected raise.
Supervisors will decide if a new part-time road crew member should be hired in 2015 and tentatively decided to put off purchasing a new police cruiser until 2016.
Nearly $11,000 was budgeted for public works overtime with the upcoming winter season. $2,000 was also budgeted if crews need professional assistance.
Cornman also said she needs a new computer for the office – an estimated $2,000 expense that was budgeted.
“I need a new computer this year – I was going to get it last year and I didn’t,” Cornman said. “I don’t want anything changed but the (tower).
“I’d rather just keep it because I don’t want to update to Windows 8, but (Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Carla Scholl) and I are not going to jive here pretty soon. Her computer is newer than mine and she’s having problems getting into mine. I don’t have any antivirus anymore because I have Windows XP and they won’t update anymore.”
More than $6,500 was spent on computer services this year, mostly due to re-setup after the new building was ready.
Supervisors are realizing a nearly $20,000 deficit from the four sewage treatment plants before tap fee, lien letters and income fees were collected, but the remaining nearly-$14,000 deficit will be paid off utilizing the General Fund surplus.
Sewage Operator Dave Stewart proposed that next year supervisors save about $1,500 to the Adrian, Cowansville and Tarrtown plants by eliminating water.
Other ways to cut the 2015 sewage budget include if Stewart becomes certified instead of readily needing CWM Environmental (and total nearly $19,000 expense) and chemicals are acquired through a Community Development Block Grant, but the largest overall expense is in debt service to Adrian, Cowansville and Tarrtown since the plants were completed in June 2011.
$30,000 from Marcellus Shale impact fees this year will go toward the sewage fund.
Local News | jweaver November 6, 2014
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By sickofpayingforit, November 9, 2014 @ 3:25 AM
I don’t have a dog in this fight, but this group, and the folks at Manor, seem to have their stuff together for the most part. Not sure what the metrics are for this success, but possibly someone should take a look at them from the struggling areas???