South Union supervisors leave tax rate as is for 2004
South Union Township residents will face no hike in taxes next year, based on a final budget the township supervisors approved Wednesday. Supervisor Tom Frankhouser said the supervisors have not raised taxes in 28 years.
Under the current tax rate of .6 mills, residents pay $60 for every $10,000 in assessed property value.
“It is a budget that is pretty austere and does not call for any tax increases,” said Supervisor Robert Schiffbauer. “It reflects a credent policy in managing the affairs of the township. …We provide services, while we expanded substantially on services other townships are unfortunate not to have.”
The budget of nearly $4 million includes about $3.4 million in the general fund, with the remaining money in the state liquid fuels fund, the fire hydrant fund, the athletic fund, the Hopwood Village Project fund and the North Union and South Union Intergovernmental Board.
Compared to the 2003 budget, the 2004 budget is about $200,000 more, said Frankhouser.
The supervisors emphasized that the liquid fuels fund, which pays for road resurfacing, major equipment purchases, snow removal, traffic signals and street signs, is money received from the state, not tax revenue from residents and businesses in the township.
Out of the liquid fuels fund, a portion of the equipment the supervisors purchased will be used for this winter. The equipment includes two new snowplow trucks, a new high lift and a dump truck used for the recycling and yard waste programs.
Also at their meeting Wednesday, the supervisors accepted the second amendment of a lease that allows for expansion of the Greater Uniontown Joint Sewage Plant. The lease to South Union Township is through the city of Uniontown, which owns the property on which the plant sits.
“We are in the midst of a substantial expansion of the sewage plant that services both North Union and South Union townships and the city of Uniontown,” said Schiffbauer. “The plant has been a touchy issue in the past. It has been cited numerous times by the DEP (state Department of Environmental Protection). …But now the overhaul and expansion of the plant should provide us with many years of growth. …It is allowing the township to prepare for its future.”
The expansion project began in July.
Many more improvements are expected for the future. Among the improvements is a paved access road.
Also, the supervisors appointed Frankhouser as the township’s representative and Schiffbauer as the alternate representative to the Southwest Regional Tax Bureau for 2004.
“The tax bureau, with our participation and other municipalities, allows us to keep the tax rate the lowest possible,” said Schiffbauer.
The supervisors also conducted the following business:
– Tabled a motion to reappoint Lou Agostini to the township sewage authority until the supervisors have spoken to Agostini to see whether he wants to serve again.
– Said the recent flooding caused a considerable amount of damage to various township roads and a bridge on Mulberry Street.
– Announced the repair of a sewage line on Michael Drive and Fifth Avenue in Revere.
– Announced the completion of the new township garage located behind the present building and the start of work on a new salt shed.