Most West Deer property owners will see a tax increase in the upcoming year.

Township supervisors adopted the $10.8 million budget at their meeting last week.

While the general fund millage rate dropped to 2.9 mills — a 0.09 decrease from this year — the township is implementing a 0.5-mill fire tax in the upcoming year. The fire tax replaces an annual flat fee of $40 per residential property and $100 per commercial property,

Voters narrowly approved the fire tax referendum in November, which ultimately brings the overall township tax rate for 2024 to 3.4 mills.

A property owner with the median assessed value of $180,000 will pay about $400, an increase of $48.

Under the new fire tax, some residents will pay more while others could pay less, depending on their assessment, according to township officials.

Other expenditures in the budget include increases for some top township administrators. Township Manager Dan Mator will be paid $135,000, a 21% increase, and police Chief Bob Loper’s salary will be $129,000, a 19% increase.

In total, the increase in employee salaries averages about 10%.

The increases are part of an overall supervisors review of employee salaries and responsibilities, officials have said.

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