Franklin Twp. tentative budget for 2013 would keep taxes steady
FRANKLIN TWP. — Franklin Township supervisors approved the tentative budget for 2013 Thursday that does not include any property tax increases.
The general fund budget is virtually identical to the 2012 budget. The 2013 budget forecasts revenues of about $728,300 from property taxes, fees among other sources and expenditures of the same amount – a balanced budget.
“No tax increases – we’re proud of this balanced budget,” said Thomas McCracken, chairman of the board of supervisors.
The budget holds real estate taxes at the current rate of .869 mills.
A homeowner with a place assessed at $100,000 would pay about $86 in property taxes annually.
Longtime Supervisor Melvin Lerch said property taxes have remained the same for at least 20 to 25 years.
The tentative budget will be on display for public comment until it is presented for adoption at the council meeting on Dec. 19.
In other business, supervisors announced plans for a special meeting to discuss a proposed 10-ton weight limit ordinance at 9 a.m. Dec. 19 at the township building.
“Our goal is to try to protect our roads,” McCracken said. “Our roads were not designed to carry the truck traffic that we have.”
McCracken said the intent behind the ordinance is to protect roads from the large trucks used in the Marcellus shale industry — vehicles that may be hauling tons of material.
Lerch said the ordinance is not aimed at prohibiting local truck traffic from completing deliveries or other work associated with construction or farming.
Earlier this year, the township conducted a traffic study to determine if an ordinance was needed. Based on the study’s recommendations, supervisors asked township solicitor, Gary Frankhouser, to prepare the weight limit ordinance.
In other business, supervisors are waiting for an audit report to be released regarding the township’s financial records. McCracken said the results of that audit will be discussed at the special meeting on Dec. 19.
The audit was triggered in July shortly after the township’s office manager/treasurer, Cheryl Bozek, took time off starting in June using accumulated sick leave and vacation.
State law requires an audit to be conducted anytime a treasurer leaves office for an extended period of time. Supervisors also:
n Adopted a resolution that requests that the Fayette County commissioners enact an ordinance that coincides with Act 13 — a law dealing with Marcellus shale natural gas drilling impact fee proceeds. The resolution seeks a portion of “county well fees” to be distributed among the townships on an annual basis and designates the percentage of those fees to be allocated.
Like many other townships and boroughs in Fayette County, the township is the beneficiary of an impact fee allocation. The township was allotted $38,494 from the fees.
n Announced that the township is trying to determine the procedure to possibly annex the Spillway Lake community.
n Mailed the annual contribution of $6,000 each to the Smock and Flatwood volunteer fire departments.
n The township’s reorganization meeting will be at 8 a.m. Jan. 7 at the township building.