No tax hike in this year’s Aleppo budget, all services kept
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Aleppo Township property owners will not have to dig deeper into their wallets to pay real estate taxes this year.
Commissioners recently adopted the 2022 budget and maintained the tax rate at 3.5 mills.
It has been at least six years since taxes were raised.
Projected revenue and expenditures were balanced at about $1.326 million.
Income includes $481,000 in real estate taxes, $338,000 in Act 511 taxes, $330,000 in intergovernmental revenues, $115,700 in transfers from other funds, $36,000 in licenses and permits and $10,000 in charges for services.
Spending includes about $292,500 for public works, $219,000 for administration, $134,300 for solid waste removal, $132,400 for police, $126,000 for fire protection, $50,000 for legal services, $50,000 for engineering, $34,600 for legislative expenses and $25,000 for storm water management.
Township manager Gwen Patterson said there were no cuts to programs or services, and the pandemic has had minimal impact on financial issues.
“We’ve been pretty lucky that we’ve been able to keep our operations at the same level before the pandemic,” Patterson said. “We’ve been pretty fortunate.”
No major paving is planned for this year.
Patterson said the township usually saves road improvement money every few years to do a large street repair project, and 2022 will be a fund-building year.
There are plans to build a walking path and install benches for a community space off Webber Road.
Patterson said the lot is a little more than an acre, and about $15,000 was budgeted for the recreation upgrade.
January was the start of a new five-year garbage and recycling collection contract with Waste Management.
Patterson said the deal was worked through Quaker Valley Council of Governments, and Waste Management has been the township’s garbage hauler for the past several years.
Garbage collection fees are built into the township’s tax bills.
Aleppo contracts out its police coverage to Ohio Township.
Patterson said they are in a three-year contract that expires June 2024.
“Everyone’s been very satisfied with their performance and service,” Patterson said of the police department.
The manager expressed optimism as Aleppo moves forward with the budget.
“We’re very hopeful that the pandemic can ease for everyone,” she said. “For community health and the health and safety of our residents, as well as the services that we can provide. We’re just looking forward to being responsive to our residents, and hopefully be able to provide this parklet area and the same public works services that we currently provide.”
Commission president George Jones noted the budget passed unanimously and commended Patterson for her efforts.
“The process utilized prior financials to establish a baseline, adjusted for future needs and was effectively completed by the manager and finance committee,” Jones said. “Manager Patterson, the finance committee and the township treasurer will adhere closely to the budget, review monthly, adjust to any significant unforeseen revenues or expense and continue a fiscally conservative policy.”
The budget is available for review at the township office as well as online at aleppotownship.com.