Dec 18, 2018 2 min read

Municipalities in Greene County have finalized, or are working to finalize, 2019 budgets this month.

Cumberland Township officials finalized the budget at a Dec. 3 meeting. There will be no tax increase, though anticipated expenses have increased to $3,993,180, up from last year’s $3,350,495. The anticipated revenue for 2019 is $2,292,386.

Cumberland Township Secretary-Treasurer Debra Rush said the rise in expenses is largely due to increases in health and property insurance, an increase in legal fees and increases in the police department’s budget. She said the police department just moved three part-time officers to full-time positions.

Rush said the township plans to rely on an estimated $4.36 million in fund balance and certificate of deposit funds to make up the difference in 2019’s expenses and revenues.

“There doesn’t seem to be too many concerns from the township,” Rush said. “We like to spend wisely, because it is taxpayers’ money.”

Franklin Township expects to vote on its budget at a 1 p.m. Thursday meeting. The preliminary budget does not include a tax increase and has anticipated expenses at $1,774,885 and anticipated revenues at $1,442,050, which is about the same as last year, according to township Secretary-Treasurer Angela Riley.

“We try to be as conservative as possible with it,” Riley said.

Riley said there are “cushions” in the budget to make up the difference in revenues and expenses.

“We always budget less revenue than what we get in because you’re not guaranteed anything,” she said. “Every year it’s worked out.”

Waynesburg Borough Council approved its budget during a Monday meeting, with a general fund anticipated expense of $1,682,200 and a sewer fund anticipated expense of $792,900. There were no tax increases, according to borough officials.