Ross Leaders Keep Tax Rate at 3 Mills; Pass 2012 Budget

The Ross Township Board of Commissioners voted 8-1 Tuesday to keep the tax rate at 3 mills for 2012, but continued discussion about putting a referendum before voters for a dedicated tax increase to fund the township's share of the costs. 

The board also approved 8-1 a $15,346,451 budget for 2012 that includes the addition of a part-time code enforcement officer, the lease of a new street sweeper, and a 5.5 percent increase in the contributions to the township’s eight volunteer fire companies.

The budget, , provides an additional $100,000 toward road paving, bringing the total budgeted amount for that line item to $500,000. Commissioners agreed, as well, to increase that amount up to $600,000, if the final accounting for revenues and expenses for 2011 provided enough surplus. 

Township Manager Wayne Jones said savings found in the healthcare line item — acquired through a switch in the township's broker and a decision to pay a higher deductible — allowed more of the budget to be allocated to the paving program. 

Although the amount is still , Commissioner David Mikec said he felt the new funding level was decent.

"It made it enough for me to vote for this program," he said. 

Chairman of the Board Dan Kinross, , was the lone dissenter on both the tax rate set and the 2012 budget. 

"I sincerely believe the tax rate is too high at 3 mills," he said.

He also said he doesn't agree with the numbers in the budget.

"We should be spending less with a better surplus," he said.

Before the meeting adjourned Tuesday, Commissioner Chris Eyster asked the board to send a letter to the board of the Northland Public Library, notifying it that the township intended to pull out of its funding agreement with the library at "our first available opportunity." 

It is budgeted at about $400,000 for 2012. 

The township is one of five municipalities that contribute to the library's budget. The others include the Boroughs of Bradford Woods and Franklin Park and the Townships of Marshall and McCandless. 

Ross Township residents made up about 26 percent of the library's cardholders in 2010, according to the library's 2010 annual report. 

Total municipal contributions in 2010 were $1,410,113 out of the $2,406,036 in financial support given to the library. Ross Township's portion of the municipal contributions was about 29 percent.

Eyster said the notification would fulfill a technical requirement in the agreement and  

The motion failed 7-2, with Eyster and Commissioner Lana Mazur voting for it. 

"I recognize we're trying to save some money," said Commissioner Pete Ferraro. But, he added, if the township quits paying its share of the library funding, "I do not think the library could survive." 

Commissioner Dan DeMarco said he, too, respected the concern behind the request, but that he felt moving to withdraw funding now was putting the cart before the horse. 

If a referendum is what the board wants, then do that first, he suggested. He also warned the board that continuing to talk about the fate of the library funding would stir up passions — and that it shouldn't be for nought. 

"Please let's make it happen. Please do it this time," he said. "Get it on the ballot." 

The board then voted 5-4 to try and open discussions with the library board and partnering municipalities in order to revise the term of the contract, which they said locked them in for five years. 

[UPDATE: According to the contract any of the five municipalities may withdraw from it and the municipal authority overseeing it by giving three full years advance notice in writing to each of the other municipalities.]

Commissioners Mazur, DeMarco, Eyster, Grace Stanko, and Gerald O'Brien voted in favor of the move, while Mikec, Grant Montgomery, Ferraro and Kinross voted against. 

"I don't know why (the library) would do that," Eyster said, before casting his aye. "I'm going to vote for it, but they're not going to do it."