NORTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Some big projects are coming to North Whitehall Township, and the municipality's proposed 2023 budget reflects that.
At the Board of Supervisors meeting Monday, township manager Randy Cope unveiled a budget that would hold the property tax rate at its current 0.6 mils, but transfer $2 million from the cash reserves in the general fund to the capital fund.
Because of that transfer, the budget’s general fund has about $7.7 million in expected expenditures and a revenue of just under $6 million, with a deficit of about $1.7 million.
- The proposed budget does not raise property taxes
- The general fund budget has a deficit of about $1.7 million because of transfers to the capital fund. The general fund had an $8 million surplus at the end of 2022
- The biggest expenditure in the proposed budget is township building renovations, which are in the planning phase
- The proposed budget also has funds for three new full-time employees.
Supervisors Chairman Al Geosits said the township had to transfer the funds because it plans many projects for 2023.
“Next year is going to be a very busy year,” Geosits said.
Geosits said he is not worried about transferring money out of the general fund because the township is in good financial shape. The general fund had an $8 million surplus at the end of 2022.
The biggest expenditure in the proposed budget is township building renovations, including renovations to the municipal building, Cope said.
“I think it'd be a good project overall. It's gonna create a better resident experience as they come to the township building, a much more welcoming environment. This is our hub, this is our place of business. This is where residents come to conduct their township-related business.”Randy Cope, North Whitehall Township Manager, about renovating the municipal building
Township officials are still crafting a plan for the renovations they will present at a future supervisors meeting. But Cope said township officials have discussed turning the upstairs of the municipal building into community space.
“I think it'd be a good project overall," he said. "It's gonna create a better resident experience as they come to the township building, a much more welcoming environment. This is our hub, this is our place of business. This is where residents come to conduct their township-related business.”
Other projects proposed in the 2023 capital fund include drainage at Shady Lane, Park Valley Road Bridge improvements, Ironton Rail Trail signalized crosswalks and other various improvements to parks.
The proposed budget also includes funds to hire three new full-time township employees: a code enforcement officer, an office receptionist and a director of finance. Cope said he thinks adding the positions would let management-level employees focus more on big-picture issues rather than day-to-day operations.
Copes said he hopes to not transfer money from the general fund in future years.
The proposed budget’s general fund has an expected surplus of $6 million at the end of 2023.
The proposed budget will be available on the township’s website for review. Supervisors will vote on it Dec. 5.
