Mahoning Township supervisors hold line on taxes

HILLSVILLE, Pa. — Township taxes will stay the same in 2008 for Mahoning Township under the new budget approved recently by supervisors.

Township Treasurer Gil Lucarelli said the budget shows $852,000 in anticipated general fund revenue and $846,000 in expenses.

In 2007, Mahoning had a 0.25 mill tax increase to cover increased costs in the police budget and a $740,019 general fund.

However this year, the financial picture looks brighter because of the announced construction of the Centaur racetrack on property on U.S. Route 422. Already, the township has received $98,000 in realty transfer taxes on the property which was sold to Centaur by local businessman Carmen Shick.

The township will use $80,000 of that money to a buy property for construction of a sewer plant for the new Edinburg-Hillsville sewer line. That money will be reimbursed to the township once the line is operating.

This advance makes expenses look significantly higher than those in 2007, but when the advance is subtracted, the expenses are only about $8,000 higher next year, Lucarelli said. These he attributed to increases in electric costs and worker’s compensation rates.

In addition, Lucarelli said the township expects to see additional revenue for building permits for the racetrack complex, which is expected to be completed in July, 2009.