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TYRONE – Snyder Township supervisors voted unanimously Monday to approve a final 2016 budget with no tax increase but noted there were changes made since the budget’s tentative approval last month.
The budget predicts revenue at $931,534 in the general fund, with predicted expenditures totalling $846,984, township secretary Ann Dillon said.
While predicted expenditures remain the same as when the budget was tentatively approved, projected revenue was reduced by $45,000, Dillon said.
Still, if all goes according to plan, the township will see a surplus of $84,550 in its general fund.
A portion of the predicted revenue was lost because a planned increase to the township’s local service tax, levied on those who work in the township, was not possible this year, Dillon said.
The local services tax, which is currently called the occupational privilege tax, was to increase from $10 to $52, generating more than $40,000 in revenue, supervisors said last month.
However, that tax must be increased by ordinance, and township solicitor David Pertile said the supervisors missed their deadline to post notice of a prospective change before the end of the year.
“There wasn’t enough time left in 2015 to do it for 2016,” he said. “They’ll have to act in 2016 to make it effective in 2017.”
Also, a predicted $55,000 in funds the township receives from local wind turbines was estimated too high, Dillon said, explaining that number was decreased to $52,000.
Last month supervisors’ Chairman Charles Diehl said funds from both the wind turbines and local services tax were to be used to partially fund extensive repairs to Back Vail Road.
The township is responsible for $100,000 of that project, which is to be completed via a public-private partnership, said Diehl, whose term as supervisor is to end at a reorganizational meeting next month.
“They are going to have to look at some way to cut some costs because we are obligated to that $100,000,” Diehl said of budget changes. “That’s our share.”
Last month, Diehl said the project will include paving and guardrail work among other needed repairs. The total cost of the project is estimated at $746,000, Diehl said.
In addition to the $100,000 from the township, Diehl said $500,000 in grant funds are being sought, and local businesses are to be asked to donate funds.
According to the Monday meeting agenda, the township’s real estate tax rate is to remain at 7.75 mills – $116.25 a year per every $15,000 in assessed value, which in Blair County on average is about one-seventh of market value. Diehl said it’s been decades since the last rate increase.
“We’ve held the line on real estate taxes for 20 years,” he said previously. “This will be 21.”
The budget also includes a 3.5-mill fire protection tax, 1 percent real estate transfer tax and 0.5 percent earned income tax, as well as an across-the-board pay increase of $1 per hour for township employees.
Mirror Staff Writer Sean Sauro is at 946-7535.