Foster Township supervisors adopted a 2020 budget at Monday’s meeting that keeps property taxes steady at 5 mills.
This is a sum of 5 cents for each $100 of assessed valuation, Supervisor Gus Crissman further explained, reading the resolution that set the tax rate. The resolution included a 2% discount levied on all property tax paid during the discount period, and a 5% penalty on all real property tax paid during the penalty period.
Supervisor Chairman George Hocker said after the meeting there is no increase in the property tax or sewage rate for next year.
Supervisors also passed a budget resolution with both revenues and expenses estimated at $6,028,406.98 for fiscal year 2020.
Township officials also took time at the meeting to honor longtime police officer Kevin Shaffer for his years of service. Several law enforcement officials were in attendance at Monday’s meeting for the presentation of a plaque to Shaffer.
Police Chief Tom Munn shared highlights from Shaffer’s career, saying he was a “dedicated police officer for 45 years — 20 of which were full time.”
From 1974 to 1999, Shaffer worked as a part-time officer for several departments including Foster Township, Bradford Township and the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. In January 1999, he started as a full-time patrolman for Foster Township, a post he held until his retirement from the department earlier this year. He remains employed with the township as a code enforcement officer.
Later in the meeting, Crissmas said, “I would like to take this moment to congratulate Kevin Shaffer, from the Foster Township supervisors. You’ve done a great job.”
Hocker outlined some of the projects the township will focus on in 2020, too.
Projects include helping the magisterial district justice office meet any new state guidelines set forth in 2020, as the state makes changes to the offices every 10 years; finishing changes to the intersection of East Main Street and Bolivar Drive; looking into the township’s four-wheeler laws; continuing to work on code enforcement; and finishing sewer projects.
Crissman added, “I think our plan, also, is to have every township road surfaced this coming season. Hopefully we won’t have any more dirt roads.”
Hocker said that supervisors are looking to change the administrator for the township’s zoning map database. Currently, North Central is the administrator, but he believes McKean County can provide the same service at a cheaper rate. They will make a final decision in January.
Hocker noted after the meeting that residents won’t see any change in the zoning database, even if the administrator changes.
A resident asked about the status of a developing plan to increase the water supply in the area of the Lafferty Hollow Industrial Park, wondering if the local Office of Economic and Community Development had found grant money.
Hocker explained the OECD is in the process of finding grant money. He indicated they first hope to install a water line extension, then add a water tank.
The work session scheduled for December is canceled.
