Hempfield passes budget without raising taxes for 32nd consecutive year

Hempfield property owners will continue to see steady tax rates after supervisors approved an almost $15.1 million budget that does not raise taxes for the 32nd consecutive year.

Supervisors unanimously voted on the balanced budget Monday, keeping property taxes at 3 mills, a rate held since 1990.

“We just spend every day trying to get more efficient and glean every penny out of that that we can,” said township Supervisor Tom Logan.

Of expenses recorded in the budget, $5.1 million is from general government, $548,974 is from code and safety, $196,334 from finance, $1.9 million from fire and emergency services, $1.2 million from parks and recreation, $149,676 from planning and zoning, $5 million from public works and $850,000 from transfers.

Of revenues in the budget, $13.6 million is from general government, $490,000 from code and safety, $288,000 from fire and emergency services, $473,480 from parks and recreation, $140,500 from planning and zoning and $87,270 from public works.

Approval of the final budget came after township leaders in August began a revamped budget process that included meeting with department heads to discuss operating budgets, new hires that may be needed throughout the year and new initiatives and projects. Leaders took those numbers and complied it into a proposed budget.

Part of the revamped process includes laying out budgetary highlights for each department and goals for 2022.

According to the documents, highlights from fire and emergency services budget include $100,000 for a staffing and incentive program, which supervisors discussed in October. The goal of the program is bolster responses from volunteers while avoiding bringing a paid firefighter onboard.

In addition, goals for code and safety center around obtaining a 2022 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, or SAFER, grant to benefit the township. In parks and recreation, officials hope to install a $400,000 destination playground at Hempfield Park next year, budget documents show.

Supervisors approved the preliminary budget in November. No changes were made to the budget between November and the final approval.