NORTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — North Whitehall Township has a balanced budget for 2024.
The township board of supervisors voted unanimously Monday to approve the final 2024 budget, which keeps the property tax rate at 0.6 mills.
The budget includes three new staff positions, large building projects and increased funds for the township’s volunteer fire companies.
“All this comes with no tax increase or any other rate increases. I would say that's a successful budget.”Township Director of Finance and Treasurer Seth O’Neill
“All this comes with no tax increase or any other rate increases,” township Finance Director and Treasurer Seth O’Neill said. “I would say that's a successful budget.”
The budget projects a slight surplus of the general fund, starting 2024 at $8,525,000 and ending the year at $8,530,000.
The 2023 budget’s general fund projected a deficit of $1.7 million by the end of 2023 because of expected funds needed for the township building renovations.
But the township now very likely will end 2023 in a surplus, O'Neill said. Many of the costs associated with the projects have been pushed to 2024, and the township will finance the project rather than pay for it upfront.
What’s in the budget?
Projected capital fund expenditures include a total of $3,806,000 of costs related to the township building renovations. But the township also expects to get an estimated $3,616,000 in revenue to finance the project.
The proposed 2024 budget includes $350,000 for annual debt services related to the project. The total project cost is estimated to be about $5 million.
The budget includes salaries for three additional full-time staff members: two in the public works department and one grants manager.
It also has $10,000 more than last year for each volunteer fire company in the township and for Northern Valley Emergency Medical Services.
Each fire company now will get about $51,000 from the township and Northern Valley Emergency Medical Services will get $75,000.
North Whitehall Township "hopes this additional contribution of almost 24% towards public safety will help offset some of the price shocks that these organizations face in obtaining equipment and other capital assets,” the budget summary reads.
The budget also accounts for a new summer program to be held at Schnecksville Elementary School.
It will have the same programming as the current program at Ironton Elementary School and include about 125 children, Township Manager Randy Cope said previously.
Six new speed boards are in the budget to help curb speeding complaints. They would be placed on roads throughout the township, including on Schneck Road, Spruce Street and Clearview Road, among others.
Signalized crosswalks also will be installed at the Ironton Rail Trail.
