Brady Township voted Wednesday to increase real estate taxes by 2 mills.

The action raises taxes from 8.5 to 10.5 mills, with the extra money supplying about $17,439 more in revenue, according to the budget.

Bob McConnell, chairman of the board of supervisors, said things like salt, oil and other maintenance costs continue to rise, but tax revenue has stayed the same.

“Everything is going up in cost,” McConnell said.

The township's three major budgets are balanced: the general fund at $511,305, liquid fuels at $206,840 and impact fees at $59,725.

Brady's largest source of revenue comes from taxes at $227,702, which includes the increase.

The largest expense is listed under buildings at $265,049.

McConnell said much of that cost is from the continued work on the new township building, which still needs much of the interior completed.

McConnell said the tax hike was focused on the increasing costs of day-to-day operations and was not in response to the building project, which the township has handled out of cash on hand and one DCNR low-interest loan of about $100,000 that officials have yet to use.

“Everything that's sitting on that hill has been paid for,” McConnell said.

McConnell said another factor in Brady's finances is the nature of the township.

He said having so much state-owned property makes finding revenue difficult. He said the township receives about $2 per acre from the state for the 1,074 acres of state-owned land, in lieu of tax income.

The state-owned land includes Moraine State Park, Jenning's Environmental Education Center and a portion of land near Route 8.

McConnell said the township also does not have many businesses, and some of the most business-worthy real estate is owned by the state, referring to a small lot of about 27 acres enclosed by Duffy Road, Routes 8 and 173.

“We approached the state at one time about purchasing that property,” McConnell, a 30-year-member of the board said, “they wouldn't sell it.”

McConnell said there are times where the township is left with no choice but to increase taxes to keep up with rising costs.

“To survive, what other recourse do we have?” McConnell asked.