Franklin supervisors adopt budget
WAYNESBURG – The Franklin Township supervisors Monday adopted the township’s 2015 budget, a spending plan that will not require an increase in property taxes next year.
The township levies a 1.28 mill property tax. Property taxes in the township remained unchanged since about 1987, when the supervisors adopted a tax for fire protection following approval of the tax in a ballot referendum.
The budget lists spending at $1,939,782 and total income at $2,004,495.
Income and disbursements are about the same as last year, township secretary Carol Kraft said. However, the supervisors did include $500,000 in the budget for repairs to the township’s shop building and earmarked $100,000 for a new capital improvement fund.
The capital improvement fund will be used to pay for infrastructure improvements such as sewer and water line extensions. The township has not had a capital fund for several years but has been using its Community Development Block Grant money for infrastructure improvements.
CDBG money, however, can only be used for projects that benefit low- and moderate-income residents. The new capital improvement fund will be used to cover the costs of projects in areas that may not eligible for CDBG funding.
Of the township’s 1.28 mill property tax, 0.75 of a mill is earmarked for the general fund, 0.17 of a mill for machinery and 0.36 of a mill for fire protection.
The supervisors also decided again to keep the local service tax at $10.
The tax is collected from each person who works in the township and, by law, can be as much as $52.
The supervisors approved a resolution to use the township’s 2014 Community Development Block Grant for a water line extension on Orndorff Road.
Supervisor Corbly Orndorff, who lives on the road, abstained on the vote.
The project will serve about eight homes and create a loop in the water system between Sugar Run Road and Smith Creek Road. The 2014 allocation is for $107,897.
A public hearing on use of the money was held at Monday’s meeting, prior to adoption of the resolution, but no one was in attendance.
The supervisors were having problems finding projects that meet the CDBG criteria.
CDBG money must be spent on projects that benefit low- and moderate-income residents.
For a water line extension, for instance, the township must survey residents along the road to make sure a certain percentage meet the CDBG guidelines for a low or moderate income household.
The township had looked at three different projects for use of the 2014 allocation, sqid Supervisors Reed Kiger. However, none except the Orndorff Road project met the income eligibility criteria.
Rob Kuchar, the township’s CDBG administrator, told the supervisors that the state Department of Community and Economic Development, is changing the CDBG program and next year hopes to have the grants administered by the county.
Franklin Township will still receive its separate allocation, but the contracts will be administered by the county.
In another matter, the supervisors approved a motion to move ahead with creation of an agricultural security area, a designation that helps farmers protect their land from development and ensure its continued use for agricultural purposes.
Five property owners now plan to participate in the security area, Richard Patterson, Richard Patton, Bruce Rohrer, Sam Fox and Orndorff. The township will publish a public notice, which will be followed by a 45-day comment period.
The designation gives farmers special consideration in regard to “nuisance” challenges. This could come into play if, for example, homes were built nearby and the new home owners complained about noise associated with normal farm operations and sought ordinances to restrict it.
The designation also makes it more difficult for someone to use eminent domain to condemn the farm property.