IN Peters Township February/March 2017 | Page 12

Township Budget eters Township

PETERS TOWNSHIP NEWS
SUMMARY OF CAPITAL ITEMS
The proposed capital outlays in 2017 are :
General Government Information Technology Upgrades
$
77,000
Police Station Renovations
$
35,000
Municipal Complex Landscaping
$
25,000
Copiers
$
20,000
Geographic Information System
$
15,000
Municipal Building Furnishings
$
15,000
$
187,000
Public Safety Aerial Fire Truck Replacement
$
930,000
McMurray Town Center Streetscape
$
307,270
Fire Station Renovation Design
$
142,000
Traffic Impact Fee Update
$
125,000
Scheduling Software
$
15,000
Digital Archiving – Phase 2 & 3
$
10,000
Portable Radio Equipment
$
8,100
$ 1,537,370
Public Works
Road Paving Program
$ 1,368,596
Traffic Signals & Signs
$
540,000
Special Projects / Critical Structures
$
450,000
Vehicles
$
365,000
Storm Sewer / Pond Refurbishment
$
160,000
Hydraulic Excavator
$
70,000
Cardboard Compactor
$
68,778
Joint Municipal Paver
$
35,000
Liquid Calcium Spray System
$
20,000
Overhead Garage Doors
$
15,000
$ 3,092,374
Parks and Recreation Field 5 Restroom / Concession Bldg
$
600,000
Park Shelter / Playground Replacement $
445,000
Peters Hill Park Master Site Plan
$
110,000
ADA Improvements
$
104,000
Park Paving – Trail Connector
$
52,500
Tree Removal
$
50,000
Compact Tractor Replacement
$
27,500
Fence & Backstop Replacement
$
21,000
$ 1,410,000
Cable Television Production Equipment
$
26,800
TOTAL $6,253,544
10 Peters Township
Each year Council and the Township staff invest considerable time and effort in developing a budget that prudently allocates limited financial resources in a manner designed to best meet the needs and desires of the community . The budget process is defined and guided by the Peters Township Home Rule Charter . It is a reflection of long-term planning initiatives such as the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and the Comprehensive Recreation Plan . It draws from input from standing advisory boards , Township staff and residents . Most importantly , it contains the insights and contributions of the Peters Township Council which are expressed not only at budget workshops but throughout the year .

REVENUES

The ability of the municipal government to achieve its goals is determined by its capacity to raise funds .
In 2017 it is estimated that 63 % of Peters Township ’ s total revenues of $ 19,030,854 will be derived from taxes . The Township anticipates collecting $ 11,992,502 in taxes . Of the taxes levied , Earned Income Tax and the Real Estate Tax are the most significant .
The Earned Income Tax is a one-half percent (. 5 %) tax levied against the wages earned by Township residents . In 2017 , Earned Income Tax will account for $ 5,525,000 or 46 % of the taxes levied for general government functions .
The Real Estate Tax is a tax levied against the assessed valuation of real estate property located in the Township . The responsibility for establishing the assessed value of properties rests with Washington County . In November 2016 , Washington County certified the aggregated assessed value of all properties in Peters Township to be $ 3,108,477,120 . Each individual taxpayer has the right to challenge the assessed value that has been assigned to their property . Peters Township anticipates that there will be extensive numbers of appeals , particularly for commercial properties which may have the impact of eroding the Township ’ s aggregate assessed value . The budgeted receipt from the Real Estate Tax , as well as the property tax millage of 1.522 mills , reflects this concern . The goal of Council in setting the property tax millage at 1.522 mills is to generate an equivalent amount of tax revenues as would have been the case had the reassessment not occurred .