DALLAS TWP. — Supervisors unanimously approved the 2017 municipal budget with no tax increases Tuesday, Dec. 20.

The nearly $3.3 million Dallas Township budget contains financial planning for the purchase of a new police cruiser, replacing a municipal dump truck and road projects while retaining the 1.27 mill rate.

A mill is $1 for every $1,000 in assessed value.

The earned income tax and real estate transfer tax will remain at 1 percent each.

“The township taxes assessed on residents amounts to approximately 7 percent of their (the municipality’s) total yearly real estate tax bills,” Supervisor William Grant said. ” The remaining 93 percent (of taxes) consists of taxes assessed by the school district and the county.”

The 2017 budget has a predicted revenue of $3,255,301 and total operating expenses of $3,221,364.

Supervisors allotted $150,000 for “major improvements” to selected municipal roads, Grant said.

Supervisors agreed to retire two aging road department dump trucks in 2017. The budget designated $175,000 toward the purchase a new dump truck.

Also, supervisors will remove from service a police cruiser with over 100,000 miles on it. The 2017 budget has a $33,015 allocation to purchase a new cruiser.

The new budget does contain an “upgrade in the short term disability insurance policy for township employees from a maximum of $300 a week to $1,000 per week,” Grant said.

In November, Grant said the township’s healthcare costs increased by 8.67 percent or $28,768 for 2017.

In other news, supervisors reminded residents the Winter Parking Ordinance prohibits vehicles from parking on town roads between the hours of 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. until April 30 is in effect.

Township police will enforce the ordinance whether or not snow is predicted.

The Dallas Township re-organizational meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan. 3.

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By Eileen Godin

egodin@timesleader.com

Reach Eileen Godin at 570-991-6387 or on Twitter @TLNews.