Dec 19, 2002 By Jackie Beranek 2 min read

BULLSKIN TWP. – Residents will see no increase in property taxes next year, based on a final, $1,007,840 budget that the township supervisors adopted Wednesday. The supervisors set the 2003 tax rate at .459 mills, with one mill generating roughly $45,000, according to Supervisor John Coughenour.

Coughenour said the new, .459-mill rate is down from the prior 2.45-mill rate because of the countywide property reassessment. Coughenour additionally said that the county estimated the total assessed value of property in the township at $269 million, up from $50 million.

Under the balanced budget, the township is expected to collect $601,600 in real estate taxes and $260,000 in state liquid fuels funds for roadwork. The township will receive $38,000 in foreign fire county aid, $35,800 in permits and rent and $72,440 in miscellaneous funds.

The township has a surplus of $254,000.

Expenditures include $183,998 for insurance, which includes pension, hospitalization, workers compensation and general liability; $83,142 for office expenses and general government; $13,000 for professional services; $62,960 for public safety; $66,740 for miscellaneous expenses; and $598,000 for wages, paving, general construction and repair of equipment.

Coughenour reminded residents that earned income tax collections for this year will go to Centax while Southwest Regional Tax Bureau will collect income taxes from prior years.

The supervisors agreed to change the tax collector in 2001 after discovering that the township was not receiving the money it was entitled to for several years.

Tax collector Lou Bell reminded residents that the deadline to pay property taxes for 2002 is Dec. 31.

The supervisors agreed to hold their annual reorganization meeting Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. and the auditors’ reorganization Jan. 7 at 7 p.m.