BUTLER TWP — Township commissioners adopted a 2018 budget that maintains the 2017 tax rate.

Commissioners unanimously adopted the $11.4 million budget Monday.

At the real estate rate of 11.25 mills, taxes on a typical township home with an assessed value of $14,667 and a market value of $152,827 will be $165.

Combined with Butler County taxes of $405 and Butler School District taxes of $1,481, total real estate taxes on that home in 2018 will be about $2,051.

From the tax millage, 7.4 mills go to the general fund, 2.7 mills go to fire protection and 1.01 mills go to debt service.

The budget includes a $7.8 million general fund and a $2.3 million special revenue fund that includes the $1.1 million highway fund, $576,180 park development fund, $461,309 debt service fund, $106,199 capital equipment fund and $51,282 stormwater pond maintenance fund.

The 2018 general fund will be $224,456 less, or 2.8 percent, than it is in 2017.

Township Manager Edward Kirkwood said many significant cost increases were absorbed into the 2018 budget. Those costs include two new police vehicles, additional street lighting, insurance premiums and pension plan contributions.

In unrelated business, the commissioners approved an agreement to allow the Butler County parks and recreation department to run the township dek hockey rink, pay utilities and keep the revenue.

In the past the township received 12.5 percent of the registration fees from the operator, but spent far more than that on utilities and maintenance, Kirkwood said.

He said the county plans to grow the operation and possibly expand the facility.

In addition, the commissioners approved several amendments to the zoning ordinance.

Many of the amendments are clarifications and corrections, but some address telecommunications towers and antennas, and “cluster” residential developments. A cluster development is a group of attached single-family homes with permanently open green space under the care of a homeowners association.

The commissioners voted for the township to opt out as a possible location for a category 4, or mini, casino.

The commissioners also extended approval of the land development plan for a new Burger King on New Castle Road until March 18.