CENTER TWP - Township residents and property owners can expect a lucky seventh year without a property tax increase in 2005.

Supervisors have given their first approval to the proposed 2005 budget of $1.65 million that was introduced at their Oct. 13 meeting. This year's budget is $1.067 million.

The tax rate will remain at 1 mill for general purpose taxes and 1.5 mills for fire protection. That means that the owner of a $100,000 home, assessed at $10,400 will pay a total of $26 in township property taxes in 2005.

Revenues in next year's budget, if given final approval at the supervisors' Nov. 10 meeting, are estimated to be higher than expenses because of several new business and housing developments.

Estimated revenues for 2005 are $1.65 million while expenditures are estimated at $1.14 million.

According to the supervisors' calculations, the increase in revenues will come from a projected 7 percent increase in new housing construction with the Shady Lane Farms Phases II and IV, Blossom Ridge Phase IV and Stratford Heights Phase I.

The construction of the Brockley Building on the site of the old Perkins restaurant and the addition of T.J. Maxx at the Clearview Mall also figure into the increase in revenues in 2005.

However, costs are expected to increase by 7 percent over this year with the adoption of new roads in the township and the snow removal and maintenance costs that come with them. Also worker wages are scheduled to increase in 2005.

Supervisors are expecting to carry about $508,100 surplus, which has been accumulated over a number of years, into next year's budget.

The supervisors 2005 capital projects fund, which is estimated to total about $2.98 million including $2.05 million carry over from this year, will cover the purchase of a small street roller and a truck, and to update traffic signals at the McDonald's restaurant entrance at the mall.

They also plan to use fund money to work on the traffic signal at Route 308, Sunset Drive and Henricks Road, which should be completed in the spring.

Other improvements expected in 2005 to come from the capital projects fund are the purchase of a truck and mower at $200,000, the Glenwood Way bridge project budgeted for $350,000 and updating the traffic signals at Route 308 and Route 8 budgeted at $60,000.