BARNESVILLE - Real estate taxes will remain the same next year with the formal adoption of the 2014 operating budget on Monday by the Ryan Township Board of Supervisors.
The real estate tax rate will remain at 3.125 mills, according to board Vice Chairman Clyde "Champ" Holman on Tuesday. Each mill is equivalent to $31,472 in tax revenue on total assessed valuation of $31,009,120. The budgeted real estate tax revenue is based on a 95 percent collection rate.
The spending plan of $486,531.14, which shows an increase of $11,808.03 above the 2013 budget.
Of the 3.125 mills, 2.5 mills go to the general fund, 0.5 mills go to the fire fund and 0.125 mills goes to the ambulance and rescue squad fund. The 2014 budget breakdown (with 2013 budget totals in parentheses) is:
- General fund - $289,795 ($277,607).
- State fund - $89,673.14 ($93,209.75).
- Refuse disposal fund - $89,008 ($85,857.50).
- Fire fund - $14,450 ($14,477.36).
- Ambulance and rescue squad fund - $3,605 ($3,621.50).
Holman said the board approved increasing the Local Services Tax from $42 to $52 per year. The tax is paid to the municipality where a person works, not where they live.
"We've had our LST at $42 for so long, and it was pointed out to us by our treasurer that we're only getting $42 and everybody else is getting $52," he said. "In our case, it means that all of our people in the township who work elsewhere pay $52, and people who work in our township pay $42. The increase will affect those who work at the state prison, the state park, and other places in the township. We're actually correcting the tax rate to where it is everywhere else."
The increase in the LST will bring in an additional $4,000 to $5,000 in revenue.
In other business, the supervisors continue to address the problems at a fire location at 2 Maple St. in Barnesville. On Sept. 27, a modular home was destroyed by fire, but the property has not been cleaned up. At the November meeting, Holman said it was unclear at the time who the property owner was.
"We've investigated it and we found that the Fegleys still own it," Holman said.
According to the Schuylkill County Parcel Locator, the property is owned by Matthew Fegley, Debra A. Fegley and Kenneth G. Fegley.
"Our solicitor has reviewed the information at the tax claim bureau at the courthouse and found that Keystone Finance had bought it," Holman said. "And my information is that there may be another buyer for the property."
Holman said that since the property ownership may be in transition, the township will not file a legal action at this time.
The reorganization meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 6, followed by the regular monthly meeting. The supervisors will not meet on Jan. 13.