BUFFALO TWP — Township residents will pay higher property taxes in 2014.

The township supervisors last week adopted a $1.9 million budget that includes a 1-mill tax hike.

Supervisor John Haven, board chairman, said in an interview the township needs the additional income.

“The last few years, we were out of money,” Haven said. “We have 1990s revenue with 2013 costs. It’s not working.”

The township had not raised taxes since that time. The increase raises the total rate from 3.38 mills to 4.38 mills.

Haven said costs keep rising while the township needs to maintain roads and service vehicles.

Supervisor Ron Zampogna said in an interview the increase will cost the average homeowner $20 and generate $40,000 to $45,000 in revenue for the township.

Zampogna, who made the motion to raise taxes, agreed with Haven that the increase was necessary.

“We need it to operate,” he said. “Everything goes up.”

The 2014 budget is a roughly $200,000 increase from this year.

The supervisors voted 3 to 2 to adopt the 2014 budget at the Dec. 11 meeting. Supervisor Matt Sweeny sided with the majority. Supervisors Gary Risch and Al Roenigk dissented.