Shohola budget: no tax increase again this year

By TOM KANE

SHOHOLA, PA — Shohola residents are probably used to the idea of no tax increases. They ought to be. Tax rates have held steady for the fifth year in a row.

The total spending budgeted for 2003 is $559,038. This year it was $596,453, but that figure was impacted by the purchase of a highway dump truck and storm repairs to township roads. No additional capital outlays are planned in 2003, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors George Fluhr said.

The amount to be raised by taxes next year is $242,000, less than the $253,700 levied in 2002. Fluhr said the budget tax levy is conservative in its expectations of outside revenues, which can fluctuate. Last year “we had a considerable increase in the real estate transfer tax since so many new homes and businesses were built in the township and that was a plus,” Fluhr said.

Whether that continues is guesswork, he admitted.

The tax rate will remain the same: 4.35 mills for the township, 1.75 mills for the fire companies, totaling 6.1 mills.

“We’re proud of the fact that our officials and our workers are very efficient and keep our costs down,” Fluhr said.

In other business, the board authorized employees of the township who are covered by the medical insurance plan to purchase dental insurance provided they pay 100 percent of the costs.