Forks Squeaks into 2012 with no new Taxes

accepted a Thursday night that totals $7,984,665 without a tax increase.

That budget, however, counts revenues at $7,773,899, or $210,766 less than needed to pay all the bills.

“The township has a comfortable surplus to move into 2013,” said Finance Manager James Farely. 

By comparison, this year's budget was $7,927,286, making the 2012 budget only $57,379 more, thanks to cuts made by the township.

The surplus amounts to $659,000 in 2011, with it dipping to $448,234 by the end of 2012 and gone by 2014.

Farley said the township should not let that surplus dip much below $500,000 because it is needed to cover expenses at the beginning of each year before tax revenues come in.

said the supervisors were “just kicking the can down the road,” meaning that a tax increase is inevitable, and by delaying it will make things worse.

“A ¼ mill increase is less than $20 per household,” he said. “That's two large pizzas and a liter of soda”

Supervisor Lilly Giola also favored a tax increase.

“I think if the resident knew the tax increase would go toward fixing roads, they would agree to it,” she said.

Both Howell and Giola lost their seats in the primary election and end their terms in December.

The remaining three supervisors voted in favor of the budget without a tax increase.

“A ¼ mill might be the bare minimum, but add that to school district increases,” said Supervisor Erik Chuss. “We keep going into tax payer’s pockets.”

Chuss said that since the township had a healthy surplus this year, it can afford to delay a tax increase until next year when the economy might be better and residents might be better able to afford it.

The complete budget will be posted on the township's website and will be for 20 days before it is finally adopted.