No tax hike in Logan Township budget
Supervisors approve tentative plan that won’t raise taxes, but will raise sewer rates
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The Logan Township supervisors Thursday adopted a tentative budget that doesn't call for a property tax increase, but that does call for an increase in the monthly sewer charge -- by $6 to $59.
With general fund expenses of $9.629 million and revenues of $9.519 million, there is a $110,000 operational deficit -- which would be offset by tapping the township's $952,000 unallocated fund balance and other investments, Finance Director Tiffany Noonan said.
As always with Logan Township, the numbers are highly conservative, according to Noonan.
That means the budget stints on estimates of revenue and is generous with estimates of expenses, Noonan said.
"I always plan for the worst case scenario," she said. "(So) we're going to beat the budget."
The unallocated fund balance amount is itself probably an underestimate, as the current balance is $1.6 million, she said.
In addition, the township is expecting $655,000 in reimbursement for a Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant for the Strawberry Hills development project, according to Noonan.
The township property tax is 2.64 mills, including general, recreation and fire.
The township last raised property tax millage in 2024, Noonan said.
Total property tax burden for Logan residents -- comprising township, Altoona Area School District and Blair County taxes -- is 15.0733 this year, according to information on the county website.
That total burden is the third lowest among county municipalities, after Tyrone Township -- which has a section in the Altoona Area School District and a section in the Tyrone Area School District -- and Snyder Township.
The township raised the sewer rates to offset the cost of needed maintenance work at the township sewer plant, increased treatment costs at the plant -- including the cost of chemicals -- and higher prices charged by the Altoona Water Authority and the Hollidaysburg Sewer Authority for treatment of some of the township effluent that comes to their plants.
Those organizations are dealing with inflation, too, Supervisor Ed Frontino said.
The township last raised sewer rates in 2013, Noonan said.
The sewer increase affects about 3,600 households. There are some that pay a different amount and some that are on septic systems.
The supervisors are expected to adopt a final budget on Dec. 10.
Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.