Butler Township supervisors pass budget without tax increases

BUTLER TWP. – On a 2-1 vote, the township supervisors passed a $3.9 million general fund budget for 2013 on Thursday night that sustains taxes at 2012 levels, including 0.95505 mills on real estate. The spending plan, devised by Maryanne Petrilla, township manager, also projects a surplus of over $49,000. Petrilla anticipates $3,990.934 in general fund revenue.

Petrilla reported that according to the Luzerne County assessor, the township has a total assessed value of $790,093,600.

A mill is $1 in tax for every $1,000 in assessed valuation.

Supervisor Ransom Young, who cast the lone no vote, said his vote emanates from litigation filed by the former codes enforcement officer and the road foreman who were fired last year by a majority of supervisors who include Brian Kisenwether and Charles Altmiller. I don't want it construed that I am part of it, Young said.

The rate includes .14204 mills for fire protection. Petrilla stipulated a fire budget of $103,746, a state fund budget of $265,054 and a waste water budget of $1,832,617.

The other major revenue providers include a one-half percent earned income tax, $1,048,000, and a local services tax which is estimated to yield $98,000.

In other business:

• The supervisors approved the purchase, for $35,000, of a 2003 Elgin vacuum-style street sweeper from the Stewart-Amos Sweeper Co.

• They voted to apply for up to $150,000 in state gaming funds for Phase II of a paving project on St. Johns Road.

• In response to a public question, Petrilla replied that unionized township employees are scheduled to receive a 3 percent pay increase in 2013.