North Strabane Supervisors Ratify 2012 Budget

supervisors on Tuesday unanimously ratified the township's $10.3 million for 2012—one that, for the 19th consecutive year, does not include a property tax increase.

The tax rate will stay at 11.48 mills. This means that a person whose home is assessed at $50,000 will pay $574 in property taxes next year.

Township Manager Frank Siffrinn said North Strabane's focus in 2012 will be the completion of the and public safety substation underway on Johnson Road.

“, emphasis will be placed on hiring of maintenance personnel, development and implementation of programs and the scheduling and management of facilities,” Siffrinn said last month.

He said the township also intends to submit a grant to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to fund the construction of bleachers that will seat in excess of 2,000 people, as well as a grandstand at the synthetic turf field at Municipal Park.

Also included in the spending plan is a $26,000 earmark to pay for the salary of a part-time parks and recreation employee.

Both the substation and the Municipal Park are scheduled to be unveiled in May.

Also in the budget is $727,000 for road construction projects. Another $125,000 has been alotted for road maintenance projects.

Earmarked for the police department is the purchase of two marked vehicles, as well as digital video camera software, fingerprint and evidence supplies, crime mapping updates and other computer equipment and software.

Budgeted for the public works department is a medium dump truck, a tractor mower and a skid steer loader. The total cost for that equipment is about $173,500.