UNION TOWNSHIP Preliminary 2005 budget passes by a 2-1 margin

The budget does not call for new taxes.
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Union Township supervisors passed a preliminary 2005 budget by a split vote.
Supervisors Steve Galizia and Pat Angiolelli voted to display the proposed budget, which includes a $1.03 million general fund. Supervisor Kevin Guinaugh voted against it at Wednesday's meeting, saying he had just received the figures and had some concerns.
The budget goes on display and comes up for a final vote at a meeting set for 7 p.m. Dec. 30.
Guinaugh objected to the fact that the budget does not call for any new taxes in 2005. The township has not raised taxes for 15 years and he said it is high time to do so. He said, "We're eliminating employees cause we can't pay them." This year, the township eliminated three road workers and one office clerk.
However, Galizia said the township has ended the year with a $78,000 carryover balance, compared with only $5,000 last year. He added that increased efficiency will make it possible in 2005 to keep all four road crew members working year-round instead of putting them on the usual winter layoff.
New expenditures
Galizia added that the budget maintains township services and allows for some new expenditures. For example, he said it includes money for computerization of the township. Currently, there is only one small computer in the office.
The budget also provides for a new code enforcement division that will become active once updating of ordinances is complete. It will continue close to 24-hour police coverage, he said, with one full-time and five part-time officers.
In addition, he said the 2005 budget will provide a $35,000 grant match for a covered pavilion to be built at Scotland Meadows Park.
Galizia credited township employees with making sacrifices to keep the township solvent. He said that secretaries took on additional work, that he and Angiolelli declined township medical coverage although they are entitled to it, road workers took a wage cut for the first three months of the year and police agreed to a one-year wage freeze.