Proposed Funding Cuts May Hurt Manor Township Firemen

Supervisor Jim McGinnis (left) discusses the budget with Lud Miller at last night's Manor Township meeting.

by David Croyle

Nearly thirty Manor Township residents turned out last night to learn details of the 2010 proposed budget.

“They [supervisors] did a good job on the budget,” Supervisor Ludwig Miller told the audience. “They scrimped and saved. Everything cost more… equipment, oil, salt, blacktop… everything goes up. Only one place we can get money is taxes.”

Currently, one mill of tax generates $60,000 of income to the township. The current millage is 5 mills.

Supervisor Howard Jack said that when supervisors first worked on the budget, they were $108,000 short.

“We had to try to come up with more money, and find places to cut down,” Jack said. “Insurance is up by 22%. We are working on getting other insurance.  Watt Insurance is working on getting better Workers Compensation rates. If we put the fire department on separate policy, it may be cheaper.  The police professional liability may see a savings of $2,000 if we switch companies.” 

However, discussion of cutting revenue to the fire department had most of the audience’s attention.

“In the budget two years ago, we put on a mill for fire department,” Miller said. “In this budget, we are taking a percentage of that back. I would sooner put another half a mill on to keep the fire department stable.”

“We are not out to hurt the fire department,” Jack said. “I am a life member. We are just struggling to come up with a balanced budget by end of the year.” 

The fix to balance the budget will result in a tax increase of one additional mill, cut fire department revenues by 25% (roughly $15,000), and institute a Local Service Tax (LST) of $35 for every person working in the township that Jack estimates will generate nearly $18,000 of new revenue.  

Grant Kanish

Resident Grant Kanish questioned the amount of the LST tax.  “Why not make it consistent with Kittanning at $52 instead of $35?” he asked.  Kanish felt that the additional money from raising the LST tax to $52 would bring in enough money to not have to make cuts to the fire department.  However, the supervisors did not consider his suggestion.

In addition to the $60,000 received from township taxes, Fire Chief Chad Evans said the volunteers still have to raise an additional $70,000 to keep the fire department from the red ink.

Supervisor Jim McGinnis asked if Manorville contributes to the fire department since it services their borough.

“We have asked in the past, and Council says ‘Don’t even bother coming because you won’t get anything.’  But there is new Council now,” Evans said.  

Miller said the supervisors would send a letter to Manorville to ask them to contribute.  “They should give a mill of tax,” he said. “If they would put a mill on down there, it would help.”

When it came to a vote, McGinnis and Jack voted to approve the tentative budget. Miller said he voted no because he felt taxes should be increased slightly more to cover the fire department.

A budget meeting was set up on December 28 at 1:30 PM in the Municipal Building for final adoption of the budget.