Penn Township proposes more money for firefighters, no tax increase

Penn Township’s proposed 2020 budget would give more money to the fire department, with no tax increase.

If commissioners approve the budget next week, real estate taxes will remain at 17.7 mills, but be divided slightly differently.

Currently, 16.7 mills worth of tax revenue goes to the general fund, with 1 mill — about $250,000 — for the fire department. The proposed budget would shift an extra 0.2 mills — about $50,000 — to firefighters.

The $9.8 million general fund has no major changes from last year, according to township Manager Alex Graziani.

The township was able to afford giving more tax revenue to the fire department without making any cuts, Graziani said. This is because $50,000 is a relatively small part of the budget, and a recent surge of home construction and other development in the township has brought in additional revenue.

Penn Township raised taxes by 2 mills last year, earmarking $500,000 in additional revenue for flood mitigation projects. The township will spend another $500,000 on flood projects this year, Graziani said.

In 2017 commissioners passed a one-mill tax increase to support the struggling police pension fund.

Commissioners will vote on the 2020 budget at 7 p.m. Wednesday.