Mar 17, 2005 By Patty Yauger 2 min read

CONNELLSVILLE TWP. – A dwindling township fund balance has prompted supervisors to send employees home and halt all operations for several days. Supervisor Chairman Don Hann said Wednesday that ledger balances are at a critical level and the municipality cannot afford to maintain its workforce until tax revenue begins to filter into the township.

“That means no one will be working,” said Hann.

Officials, said Hann, were notified by secretary Evelyn Kuhns of the budgetary shortfall after payroll for employees was executed Tuesday.

“We’re down to a couple of hundred dollars,” he said. “We can’t afford to keep the guys working or the trucks running.”

Employees were notified late Tuesday not to report to work.

In addition to Kuhns, the township has two road workers. Hann is considered a road master and is paid a salary.

Hann added that the township is current with all of its bills and is in no danger of having late fees attached to outstanding invoices.

Kuhns, meanwhile, said that she does not expect real estate revenues to be received until April.

“We might get something from the Central Tax Bureau, but those payments have been minimal over the past few months,” she said.

According to the 2004 audit, payroll, insurance, pension and other employee benefits cost the township $187,166.

Hann, meanwhile, said that past administrations have also had to shutter township operations for brief periods of time.

“If it’s going to happen at least this is a good time,” said Hann. “I’ve checked the weather forecast and it doesn’t appear we’re going to have any bad weather over the next few days.

“Hopefully, this is only temporary.”