MAHONING TOWNSHIP Tax increase would cover regional police, fire costs

The final budget is to be adopted Dec. 19.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
HILLSVILLE, Pa. -- A tax increase is being proposed for Mahoning Township residents in 2004 to cover launching of a regional police department and increased fire protection costs.
Township supervisors have adopted a proposed 2004 budget that would raise property taxes .073 mills, or $7.30 a year on every $10,000 of assessed property value. This means that residents with a house assessed at $100,000 would pay $73 more a year.
The increases, Treasurer Gil Lucarelli said Tuesday, would cover the $57,500 needed for the township's 2004 share of operating a joint police department with Pulaski Township. It would also fund a $13,469 shortfall in the Fire Department's building and equipment fund. The current tax collected will not cover loan repayments and insurance for the fire department.
The 2004 estimate of general fund income is $876,076; expenses, $862,772. While the figures are significantly higher than last year's $498,126 income estimate, they are inflated by federal disaster funds anticipated for the summer storm damage and pass-through funds for the waterline construction, as well as a $15,000 grant awarded for start-up of a police department, Lucarelli said.
The budget is on display at the township building, and final budget adoption is set for 9 a.m. Dec. 19 at the community building.
Approved contract
At their meeting Tuesday, supervisors approved a three-year contract with the township's three road workers who are represented by Teamsters Local 261. It provides for raises of 50 cents, 45 cents and 40 cents per hour in the contract's first, second and third years, respectively. Workers now make $11.95 per hour. They will also gain a sick day and the township's pension contribution increases from 3 percent to 5 percent. Lucarelli said the township will be reimbursed by the state for the pension increases.
At a resident's request, Supervisor Chairman Poncho Exposito agreed to contact District Attorney Matt Mangino's office about setting up a neighborhood watch in Hillsville because of residents' concerns over recent burglaries in the Overlook Drive area. Exposito also reported that he met recently with Union Township Supervisors Kenneth Guinaugh and Clair Damon and that the Union officials agreed to take care of snow removal this winter on the bridge at Covert's Crossing. That bridge belongs to both townships.
Supervisors approved purchase of $7,000 worth of software and a $1,200 maintenance agreement with GVS, Youngstown, to computerize the wage tax office. Exposito said the software will bring the wage tax office "out of the stone age" and noted that current software only makes mailing labels for statements.
They also approved spending up to $2,000 on updating the township's computer. Township employee Eric Pezzuolo was authorized to do the work. Supervisors also urged residents to pick up form letters of support urging Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell to support Bedford Downs, a thoroughbred horseracing track proposed for Mahoning Township. The letter states backers have the experts, the private funding and the expertise to complete construction in a year.