BUTLER TWP — Township commissioners on Monday agreed to advertise a proposed $8.025 million budget that maintains the current tax rate.

The commissioners will consider final approval of the budget and tax ordinances, which maintain the current tax rates including the 11.25-mill real estate tax, at their Dec. 16 meeting.

Township manager Tom Knights said the police department accounts for 38 percent of budget spending, the road department accounts for 37 percent, the zoning department accounts for 11 percent, administration accounts for 9 percent and parks account for 5 percent.

Officials said the commissioners haven't raised taxes in nine years.

Commissioner Sam Zurzolo credited administrators, department heads and commissioners for their sound budget management and not raising taxes.

“The residents of Butler Township should be very happy,” Chairman Dave Zarnick said.

In other business, the commissioners approved development plans for construction projects at Butler County Community College and Preston Park and plans to build a new Eat'n Park along New Castle Road.

BC3's land development plan, which the planning commission recommended for approval two weeks ago, includes a new maintenance building, demolition of the existing maintenance and shipping and receiving buildings, a new connector road off Old Plank Road and utility infrastructure for the planned Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building, which will house the nursing program.Construction of the nursing building will be part of the second phase of the project, and will require a separate process through the planning commission. Construction of the building is expected to begin in May 2021.Work is expected to take 15 months to complete.

Preston Park's land development plan calls for construction of an access road that will connect to the existing road and the construction of restrooms. The existing road will be widened and parking spaces will be added,Knights said the project will improve traffic circulation, increase parking and provide restrooms.The township received approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in 2017 for a $437,000 grant, and more recently received a $212,500 grant in September from the Department of Community and Economic Development to go toward construction of the restrooms. The DCED grant will serve as the 50 percent match for the DCNR grant, which has not yet been released, according to Knight.The commissioners opened three bids to demolish an old pump house and steel storage building in the park to make way for the new road, but tabled a final vote until the bids could be reviewed. The lowest bid was $39,800 from CRS Contracting of Cabot. The other bids were each more than $20,000 above the lowest bid, with Demex of Butler bidding $69,900 and Lycoming Supply of Williamsport bidding $61,832.Zarnick said the work at the park was designed to accommodate visitors.“The Prestons wanted us to make sure it remained a park,” Zarnick said.He said the executor of the Preston will, who serves on the park advisory board, approves of the project.

Eat'n Park's subdivision and land development plans were also approved.The plans involve building an Eat'n Park on a lot adjacent to the existing restaurant where a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant is currently located. The fast food restaurant will be demolished in December.The plan calls for consolidating lots at 212 and 214 New Castle Road into one lot measuring about 1.9 acres.The existing restaurant will remain open while the new one is under construction and will be demolished after the new restaurant is open. Construction is expected to begin in January.A new Kentucky Fried Chicken is expected to open before Thanksgiving in the same general area.

In unrelated business, the commissioners agreed to apply for a Pennsylvania Small Water and Sewer program grant for the Highfield storm sewer project. The application is for $302,312, which includes the township's $48,000 match.The commissioners also awarded a street light maintenance contract to Traffic Systems and Services of Crafton, the current contractor. The company submitted a bid with rates ranging from $95 to $105 an hour, which are the same as the current contract. Another company submitted a bid with rates ranging from $140 to $240 an hour.