Nov 3, 2014 3 min read

CARMICHAELS – Cumberland Township supervisors approved a tentative budget for 2015 Monday that will require no increase in property taxes next year.

The supervisors approved a budget of $4,809,391, 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 fairly similar to previous year’s budgets, supervisor William Groves said.

The various township funds and proposed expenditures are: general fund, $2,452,873; liquid fuels fund, $513,377; new machinery fund, $106,000; Crucible sewage fund, $380,317; street light fund, $75,000; fire hydrant fund, $17,400; and fire protection fund, $36,300.

The township also currently has $1,228,122 in Act 13 natural gas impact fee money, which includes money from previous years’ disbursements that is held in a capital reserve fund and money earmarked for projects that have not yet been completed.

The township budgeted $400,000 for Act 13 money for 2015. The township has had a difficult time estimating how much Act 13 money it will receive each year, Groves said.

The annual disbursement is based on the number of wells drilled in the municipality during the year. The township received $906,875 in Act 13 money this year compared to $787,151 last year.

In other business, the supervisors awarded a contract to replace the heat and air conditioning system at Carmichaels Senior Center to Delattre Corp., which submitted a bid of $108,930. The bid was approved by the township’s engineer and solicitor.

The project is being funding with the township’s Act 13 money. The center is also used as an emergency center.

The supervisors approved a motion to install two fire hydrants on Air Shaft Road at a cost of $11,454, which also will be paid for with Act 13 money. The hydrants had been requested by residents. The installation will be completed by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority.

The supervisors also agreed to use $3,000 of Act 13 money to install a water line at Wana B Park for the new restrooms.

The supervisors received a petition from residents on Route 664 to close a portion of the road from a point about 0.7 of a mile from Harts Road to Groves Road. No houses are along the section of the road; the section has been closed for many years and is hard to maintain because of its steep grade, Groves said. The supervisors will begin the process of closing the road.

The supervisors hired two part-time police officers, John L. Lingo and Nicholas J. Rennie. Each will start at $14 an hour and will receive no benefits.

The supervisors voted to continue the meeting until 3 p.m. Nov. 7 to further consider the budget.