Township expects to hold line on taxes in 2019

Budget includes $10M for capital projects

Peters officials expect to hold the line on property taxes next year.

Township manager Paul Lauer presented a $27.9 million preliminary budget for 2019 during a public hearing Monday night.

“There is no projected increase for the upcoming year,” Mr. Lauer said.

Taxes are expected to remain at 1.622 mills for 2019, or $1,622 for every $100,000 of assessed property value.

Mr. Lauer noted that expenditures exceed revenues by about $5 million for next year.

“There is no projected increase for the upcoming year. ”

Paul Lauer, township manager

“Part of that has to do with the fact we have a number of projects we are undertaking,” he said. The 2019 budget proposal calls for more than $10 million to be spent on capital projects.

Mr. Lauer said some of the capital projects occur yearly like road paving and vehicle purchases. However, he said other capital projects like intersection improvements throughout the township and projects having to do with Rolling Hills Park will be onetime expenditures.

Rolling Hills Drive, which will be the entrance to the park, has a cost of $3.1 million, but Mr. Lauer pointed out the township has garnered $2.6 million in grants for the project and borrowed $512,000.

Other larger expenditures for 2019 include new emergency communications radios at $415,000; improvements at the library, including a new roof at $175,000; and $825,000 in improvements to Peterswood Park, including new playgrounds and a shelter. There also is a $482,000 expenditure to install traffic signals at Thomas Road and East McMurray Road.

The township has received grants to cover a large portion of the signal project and the Peterswood Park project.

Council is expected to vote on the final budget Dec. 10 or Dec. 17. The preliminary budget is available online at www.peterstownship.com.