PULASKI TOWNSHIP To pay for new equipment, officials raise property taxes

The other taxes for 2004 will be the same as in 2003.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
PULASKI, Pa. -- Pulaski Township supervisors are going to be collecting a little extra in real-estate taxes this year to help pay for new equipment.
Supervisors created an equipment fund and set the rate at 0.1 mills during a special meeting Monday morning. Officials at the county assessor's office could not be reached to determine how much individual property taxes will increase.
Supervisor Lewis Grell said they expect to realize about $10,000 from the new tax. That money will be combined with $10,000 set aside annually from the general fund for new equipment.
Reason for fund
Grell said they created the fund because much of the township's road equipment is getting old and will eventually need to be replaced.
All other taxes remain the same from 2003 to 2004:
UGeneral fund taxes were set at 0.8 mills for the $597,891.14 spending plan -- about a $28,000 increase over the 2003 general fund of $569,816.66. Supervisors said there were no major changes in the budget, but health care costs for township employees are increasing by about 40 percent.
UFire fund tax was set at $77,530.62 and will be used for payments on a firetruck in the township.
UThe light fund tax was set at $8,439.87. All residents pay into the light fund for electric streetlights.
Supervisors also approved $147,390.32 in state money expected to be used for road projects.
cioffi@vindy.com