Nov 15, 2018 2 min read

South Strabane Township supervisors Tuesday approved a preliminary 2019 budget in the amount of $5,613,489.

Township Manager Brandon Stanick said the supervisors began budget discussions in September. The preliminary budget they OK’d Tuesday won’t include any tax increases.

“It’s important to know that the projected revenues for 2019 do not include tax increases, short-term debt, or additional long-term debt,” Stanick said. “The more conservative that we can project, the better off we’ll be.”

He said in addition to the $5.6 million in the general fund, the township anticipates an additional $776,986 in “inter-fund transfers” and $484,000 in liquid fuel funds.

The projected 2019 tax revenue for the township is $4,169,000, a 1.7 percent decline from this year’s tax revenue.

Stanick said the township won’t need a tax-anticipation loan this year, like they did last year when the township didn’t meet projected 2017 revenues. The township’s 2018 budget included a 33 percent tax increase, which brought the township’s total millage to 1 mill. Stanick said not meeting the projected 2017 revenues “was a concern.”

“We’re on a much better track, and it happened quickly,” he said.

The 2019 budget, once advertised, will still need final approval at the Dec. 11 meeting. Residents can get a copy of the proposed budget at the township’s municipal building or on the township’s website.