Bradford Township’s preliminary budget for 2010 includes a real
estate tax increase of one mill.

The tentative budget, which is expected to be discussed at the
Bradford Township Supervisors meeting on Monday, calls for a raise
from three mills to four mills. There was no tax hike last
year.

What the raise means in dollars and cents for each home owner
was unavailable Wednesday. Supervisor Steve Mascho said the
homeowners’ tax hikes will depend on their property values.

“With the cost of blacktop and the (road) repairs going up
probably three times what it’s been in the past, and to continue to
do the things we do,” a tax hike was necessary, Mascho explained.
“We cut all corners.”

Still, the lingering effects of a weak economy has forced
Bradford Township to raise taxes for the first time in “years.”

“We’re still trying to work (with) it,” Mascho said. “There’s
still things we’re looking at to cut. I don’t really want to raise
them, but I’d rather do a little bit now than do a lot later.”

In other budget news, the three supervisors would earn a stipend
of $2,500 each for 2010, an amount mandated by the state class
code. That number would remain the same from 2009.

The salaries of the five full-time officers of Bradford Township
Police and Chief David Doyle come to a total of $281,603, the
tentative numbers indicate. The three part-time officers’ salaries
would total $12,200; township secretary Nora Stewart said Wednesday
that those policemen were rarely used in the past year.

The township is slated to pay $9,800 next year for the legal
services of solicitor Greg Henry.

Elsewhere, the budget lists expenditures for various
departments.

The Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department will cost
$60,200 for the general fund. Code enforcement will chew up $18,380
of the expenditures, and the road department will cost $61,465,
according to the budget.

The sewer department will have $360,006 in expected costs to the
sewer fund. Health insurance benefits will cost $110,330 to the
general fund, $62,200 to the garbage fund and $40,904.39 to the
sewer fund.