South Union supervisors approve preliminary budget with no tax increase
The South Union Township supervisors approved a preliminary 2015 budget that keeps the real estate tax rate at the same amount it has been for the last 45 years.
Supervisors voted unanimously in favor of the $3.34 million budget that maintains the current property tax rate of 0.6 mills on Wednesday.
Taxes on property with an assessed value of $100,000 are $60. Taxes on a $200,000 property are $120.
Real estate taxes make up $379,000 of the $2.4 million in projected revenue. Total receipts are $3.34 million and total expenditures are $2.61 million.
Supervisor Jason Scott said annual growth in commercial and residential development are what keeps taxes low.
The supervisors will consider the final budget at their Dec. 3 meeting.
In unrelated business, supervisors said they are pleased that the Fayette County Redevelopment Authority signed a consent order and agreement from the state Department of Environmental Protection to stabilize an area of the Fayette County Business Park where coal had been removed.
The authority hired a contractor to stabilize the site from erosion and plant vegetation on 70 percent of the site to comply with the consent order.
The restoration work will allow Mike Wood Toyota of Uniontown to proceed with a planned relocation to the business park, Supervisor Robert Schiffbauer said.
A Chili’s is planning to open at the corner of Route 40 and New Salem Road, where a Sheetz is located, in the fall of 2016, Scott said.
The Sheetz will be moving across New Salem Road to the site where a Denny’s is located, he said.
Schiffbauer said the developments will take place after the Route 40-New Salem Road intersection is expanded.
In another business-related action, the supervisors approved the Hong Kong Buffet of Uniontown’s request to transfer their restaurant liquor license from Uniontown to 126 Walnut Hill Road in the Walnut Hill Shopping Center where the restaurant plans to be relocated. The restaurant is currently located in the Uniontown Shopping Center.
The transfer is subject to approval from the state Liquor Control Board.
In other business, the supervisors:
n Received a brief report from State Police Lt. Jeff Fisher, commander of the Uniontown station.
n Recognized resident David Jones for serving on the zoning hearing board for 18 years from 1995-2013.
n Reported that they will contact Pennsylvania American Water about the quality of its repaving of Lebanon Avenue after a water line replacement project after receiving many complaints about the rough surface of the road.
n Announced that this year’s street paving work might have to be postponed until the spring because of the cold weather.