Dec 21, 2016 3 min read

South Strabane Township residents will see a real estate tax increase for the first time since 2008 to allow for the hiring of two full-time police officers.

Township supervisors approved the final 2017 budget Tuesday with a millage rate of 0.749, a 10 percent increase from this year.

The budget accommodates Washington County’s first property reassessment in 35 years. Property is now assessed at 100 percent of its market value, compared with the longstanding 25 percent. As a result, initial reassessment property values in the township increased from about $115 million to about $1.28 billion.

The 0.068 millage increase will generate about $87,000 – enough for the township to move two current part-time police officers into full-time positions.

In March, police Chief Donald Zofchak presented the department’s 2015 report and asked the board to consider hiring more patrol officers. The yearly report showed an increase in thefts, drug-related arrests and the number of complaints to which officers responded. Police responded to 4,135 complaints, which was 525 more than in 2014, and reported almost 600 thefts, up from 450 the previous year.

On Tuesday, Zofchak said retail thefts and high-traffic areas are an ongoing problem.

The police department, composed of 19 full- and part-time officers and two detectives, covers more than 23 square miles, including heavily traveled parts of routes 40 and 19. Their patrol area includes popular retail locations, including Tanger Outlets, Strabane Square and Trinity Point.

Raising taxes is “wise,” said Chairman Jack Keisling, “because we’re adding police … and we’re not sure what’s going to happen with assessment appeals.”

Supervisors assured Zofchak they would try to implement the full-time positions as soon as possible in the new year.

In other business, the board accepted the resignation of longtime manager John Stickle, who has served as secretary, treasurer and zoning officer for more than 26 years.

In June, Stickle notified supervisors he would retire at the end of the year. A consultant was hired to find Stickle’s replacement. The new manager, Brandon Stanick, sat in on his first meeting Tuesday.

The board also formally approved a settlement agreement with HCB Foundry for mid-rise apartments at the Old Mill site.

The developer increased a traffic mitigation fee from $100,000 to $150,000 to improve the intersection of Berry and Manifold roads, an access point for the development.

A tentative agreement with the township was reached earlier this month during a conference before Judge Damon Faldowski in Washington County Court.

Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 3 for a yearly reorganization.