No tax increase planned in Cumberland
CARMICHAELS – Cumberland Township supervisors approved a tentative 2014 budget Monday, which does not include a tax increase, and voted to hire a firm to complete a revitalization strategy for Nemacolin.
The supervisors approved a tentative budget of $4,336,632, under which the property tax levy will remain at 3 mills. The township has not raised taxes in five or six years.
The proposed budget, in regard to spending, is not much different from this year’s budget, supervisor William Groves said.
The supervisors, however, did project a decrease in the amount of money it expects to receive next year in Act 13 natural gas impact fee revenue as the number of new Marcellus shale gas wells being drilled in the township declines. The township received $1,039,586 in impact fee money the first year. This year, the amount dropped to $787,000. Next year, the supervisors expect to receive about $500,000 in impact fee revenue.
The township currently has $1,196,963 in Act 13 money in its coffers. This is money from the previous state disbursements that was either placed in capital reserve or earmarked for projects that have not yet been completed. The various township funds and proposed expenditures are: General fund, $2,113,820; liquid fuels fund, $448,980; new machinery fund, $99,000; Crucible sewage fund, $354,000; street light fund, $69,000; fire hydrant fund, $20,500; and fire protection fund, $36,300.
The supervisors hired Mullin and Lonergan Associates to complete a community revitalization strategy for the village of Nemacolin at a cost to be negotiated.
“They are going to tell us the things that should be done to help revitalize the town,” Groves said.
The township and several local groups have been working to address the issue of blight in Nemacolin.
The revitalization strategy is needed in order for the township to be successful in receiving grant funds to make improvements in the community, said Marcia Sonneborn, the township’s grant coordinator.
The supervisors last month agreed to use the township’s 2013 Community Development Block Grant allocation of $100,589 to rehabilitate five homes in Nemacolin.
The supervisors voted to accept from the state a 600 foot section of Route 1019, Green Valley Road, that will end in a cul-de-sac when the state relocates the road as part of a project to re-configure the Bailey Crossroads intersection.
The supervisors voted to have Wright Agency audit township accounts for 2013 and accepted the resignation of part-time police officer Garrett Toothman.
The supervisors voted to solicit bids for materials to build a new pole building for storage at the township building and to pay Kevin Riggen $18 an hour to work on the building.