Dec 9, 2009 By Steve Ferris 3 min read

LEMONT FURNACE – The North Union Township supervisors adopted a $2.4 million budget that holds the line on real estate taxes, but raises the Emergency Municipal Services tax to $52 from $10 next year. Supervisor Curtis Matthews said only employed people pay the EMS tax. Retirees and the unemployed do not pay, he said.

Revenue from the EMS tax would be needed if proposed legislation that would require townships without their own police to pay for the services of the state police becomes law, said Thomas Kumor, chairman of the board of supervisors.

However, the EMS tax would not generate enough revenue to pay for the state police and property taxes would probably “skyrocket” if the bill becomes law, Kumor said.

The real estate tax rate will remain at .447 mills. Matthews said property taxes haven’t increased in more than 50 years.

“So we’re doing all right I think,” Matthews said.

Taxes on a property with an assessed value of $10,000 will be $4.70. Taxes on a $50,000 property will be $22.35 and taxes on a $100,000 property will be $44.70.

Other taxes were held at their current rates for next year.

The earned income tax will remain .05 percent, mercantile taxes will stay at 1.5 percent for retail sales and 1 percent for wholesale sales and the real estate transfer tax will remain at 1 percent.

Standard street light fees are $3 a month and the fees for nonstandard lighting is $3.50 a month. Lights at vacant properties cost 75 cents a month. The fire hydrant assessment will remain at .25 mills.

Southwest Regional Tax Bureau was named the earned income tax and mercantile tax collector.

The 2010 budget reflects a $60,500 increase over this year’s budget.

Budget highlights include a $1.7 million general fund, a $430,000 state highway aid fund, a $112,000 street lights and fire hydrants fund, a $75,000 capital improvement fund, a $65,000 North Union Township and South Union Township intergovernmental recycling fund, a $40,000 special projects fund and a $5,000 storm water fund.

In unrelated business, the supervisors approved a $10,945 payment to Stefanick Construction of Dunbar and an $11,080 payment to Abeck Electrical of Wilmerding for the Mount Independence water line extension. Matthews said the project is almost finished and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which provided a grant for the waterline, wants to see the work completed by the end of the year.

In another project update, transportation coordinator Bill Piper said the new completion date for the Evans Manor Bridge replacement project is next July, but the bridge could be open to traffic a little sooner.

Supervisor Robert Tupta suggested the township consider taking ownership of the temporary railroad crossing that was built on Evans Station Road and the detour road that were built to divert train and vehicle traffic around the bridge construction site.

Piper said the state Public Utility Commission issued a temporary order for the railroad crossing. He said the supervisors would have to discuss the crossing and road with the PUC and Department of Transportation.

Also, supervisors asked residents not to park near intersections or park off the street when it snows to make it easier for township workers to plow and salt streets.