It's been 34 years since East Huntingdon Township residents have seen their municipal property taxes go up, and 2004 will be no exception.
Township supervisors on Thursday adopted a tentative 2004 budget of $6.46 million, including 11 categories of spending, but no tax increase. Taxes will remain at 2.25 mills, with each mill generating about $79,000 in revenue.
The overall budget is $220,000 lower than in 2003, in part because a major water line installation has been completed. It also includes a cash surplus of $3.85 million to be carried over from 2003.
One of the 11 spending categories, the general fund budget, which covers much of the day-to-day operations of the township, came in at $1.21 million. That is about $23,000 higher than in 2003. It includes $535,000 for road paving and maintenance and $498,000 for general government expenses, including salaries for the supervisors and other township employees.
Almost all revenue sources in the general fund budget are expected to be higher in 2004, with the biggest jump coming in tax revenue, which is expected to increase about $27,000, to $677,500.
The final budget vote is set for the Dec. 18 supervisors meeting.
