Dec 7, 2015 2 min read

CARMICHAELS – Cumberland Township supervisors adopted their 2016 budget Monday afternoon with no property tax increase.

The $2.934 million spending plan will keep taxes at 3 mills for property owners, although another $2.351 million will be set aside in the township’s capital reserve “rainy day” fund.

The expenditures are down slightly from 2015 with more money going into the reserve fund due to concerns about a potential loss of Act 13 revenue next year. The township received $918,147 in drilling money this year, although the township is only budgeting to receive $375,000 this year.

The township expects to spend $583,500 on the police department, with $502,000 going to officers’ salaries. The department currently has three full-time officers, including Chief Craig Miller, and expects to have nine part-time officers next year.

The largest budget expenditure will be $1.196 million on the public works department’s road improvements fund, although that represents a 15 percent decrease from last year’s budget proposal

The budget shows an increase in the state’s liquid fuels allocation by 17 percent, with the township expecting to receive $310,127 next year. That money can be used on road and infrastructure improvements.

Also during Monday’s meeting, the supervisors accepted the resignation of John Beckus, a former full-time officer who has been working part-time since September, that will go into effect at the end of the month. Beckus has accepted a full-time job with South Strabane police.

The supervisors also voted to transfer $150,000 from the Act 13 reserve account to its expenditure fund.

The township also authorized to spend $7,051 in Act 13 money for a new gazebo in Wana B. Park.

The supervisors continued the meeting until next Monday at 3 p.m. to pass a tax abatement ordinance.