Supervisors revise budget, increase taxes

The increased revenue will help bring on a full-time police officer.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Union Township supervisors plan to revise the 2006 budget and impose the first tax increase in 17 years.
They agreed to advertise the revised 2006 budget in excess of $1 million that includes $109,275 that would be brought in by a proposed 0.49-mill increase in real estate taxes and a .00009-mill fire plug increase. The original 2006 budget was $982,025.
Secretary-Treasurer Sally Byler said the increase would amount to $29 per year for the owner of a $52,300 home. Only property owners living within a specified distance from a fire hydrant are required to pay the fireplug tax.
Officer to be restored
Supervisor Clair Damon said he expects the additional revenue to make it possible to restore township police officer Mike Mrozek to full-time status in March when the tax money comes in.
Mrozek had been promoted from part time to full time by the previous board in late December. But on Jan. 8, the new board reduced his hours back to part time, stating Mrozek was doing a good job but the township could not afford the full-time wages and benefits.
Mrozek has filed a union grievance against the township for the hours' reduction. No hearing date has been set.
The meeting to adopt the new budget is tentatively set for 8 a.m. Jan. 31. It has been placed on display at the municipal building.
Other changes
The new budget provides changes in several budget categories. These include $5,512 to hire a police clerk; $27,000 to spend on a salt shed to reduce loss of road salt which is now stored outside; $11,000 additional for anticipated legal fees; a $12,800 increase in roadmaster wages; a $3,000 increase for new radios; a $4,000 increase for anticipated utility costs; $4,792 for remaining payments on a police car bought by the previous board; and $25,000 remaining to be paid on a truck purchased by the last board.
The budget revisions also will allow more road paving to take place in the township this year, Byler said.
She explained that the state liquid fuels money -- derived from a tax on gasoline and other fuels -- has been used to help pay township road workers, a use which is allowed although the money actually is intended for road maintenance.
The supervisors also handled these matters:
URe-appointed Eileen Shuler as food surplus director. Shuler had held the volunteer position for 26 years but was not re-appointed by the last board of supervisors.
USet the next food distribution from noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 3 at the municipal building.
UAppointed Lisa Robertson to the township planning board and Robert Eckert to the zoning board.
UHired Jim Farris at $5,600 per year as planning and recycling consultant. Farris administers the housing rehabilitation program and also applies for grants for the township.
USet the secretary-treasurer's pay for attending supervisors' meetings at $35 per meeting.