Nov 8, 2016 2 min read

CARMICHAELS – A tentative 2017 budget approved Monday by the Cumberland Township supervisors includes an increase in spending but holds the line on property taxes.

The supervisors voted to advertise a $5.877 million spending plan, which they intend to adopt at their meeting Dec. 5. Property taxes are expected to remain at 3 mills.

For the most part, spending in the tentative budget is fairly level compared to this year’s budget, Supervisor Bill Groves said. This year’s budget was set at $5.285 million.

Groves attributed some of the increase in spending to the townships’ plan to use some of its Act 13 money on previously budget programs, including a housing rehabilitation and police and for revamping the zoning ordinance.

The township also expects an increase in insurance costs for equipment and buildings as well as for unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation, township secretary Debra Rush said.

On the revenue said, Groves noted, the township expects to see a $200,000 decline in the earned income tax collection, which he said will result from the closing of several businesses including the Emerald Mine. Many Emerald Mine employees reside in the township, he said.

The township budgeted $400,000 in Act 13 impact fee money, a reduction from this year when it received $711,975.

The largest budget expenditure will be $1.268 million for public works, highways and roads.

Other major spending categories include $583,600 for police protection, $422,000 for insurances, including medical, unemployment compensation and Social Security, and $290,850 for general government.