CENTER TWP — Township supervisors put a sizable surplus to use at Wednesday’s meeting at the Unionville Fire Hall.

Center had about a $100,000 surplus left from 2016. The board unanimously passed a motion to use $70,000 of it for its capital projects fund, which goes for services such as motor vehicles, machinery and bridge construction.

Supervisor Ron Flatt noted the origin of the surplus. “Most of the surplus came from a larger earned income tax than we had originally anticipated,” he said.

Another motion was made to take $70,000 from the general reserve fund to help repay a loan from NexTier Bank. The payment will cut the debt to just under $800,000.

These motions were made in conjunction with adopting the 2017 budget.

The tax millage remains the same, 7.05 mills. Estimated revenue and expenses are each $1,956,700.

Earned income taxes make up 64 percent of revenue, which is a little shy of $1.1 million.

Property taxes make up $218,000 of the budget, real estate transfer taxes make up $175,000, mercantile taxes $108,500, and the township expects to earn $95,000 from public safety fees.

Property taxes generated to repay the township’s loan to NexTier account for $204,500 of the total revenue. Other revenue includes $374,800 from the liquid fuels fund and $130,100 from the Marcellus shale fund.

The public works department takes up $579,500 of its expenses, and general services, which reflect the cost of operating and maintaining the department, are expected to cost an additional $212,000.

Snow and ice removal is set to cost $230,000, compensation and expenses to the board of supervisors is set at $120,500 and highway maintenance and construction is $105,000.

Public safety, which includes money distributed to the Unionville and Oneida Valley fire departments and rental on fire hydrants, is $92,350.

Other expenses include $330,000 to the liquid fuels fund, and $205,100 toward the debt to NexTier.

Further expenses include $130,000 to the capital projects fund, a $105,000 fire tax released during the first quarter to the Unionville VFD and $102,500 to the Marcellus shale fund.

Supervisor Ed Latuska said the budget was constructed by township secretary and treasurer Anthony Amendolea without a hiccup.

“We try to be as fiscally responsible as we can and the fact that we have surpluses in our accounts attests to that,” Latuska said.

Supervisor won’t run

Supervisor Ken Frenchak said he will not seek re-election. He has served on the board since 2008.