JACKSON TWP — Supervisors Thursday approved a township budget that increases spending by more than $1 million without raising taxes.

The budget, which amounts to approximately $5.9 million without interfund transfers, sees hikes in tax, departmental and impact fee revenue — and $1.392 million in debt.

Township manager Chris Rearick said the assumed debt will fund major road projects, including the repaving of certain roads in the Abby Woods, Briar Hill and Jackson Manor developments. He added that the money would also permit the township to contribute $200,000 annually to its capital reserve fund, which the municipality treats similarly to an emergency fund.

The township is capable of affording the new debt because, Rearick said, another $1.1 million of debt, taken on in 2015, will be repaid in 2020. Jackson paid $579,000 in debt service in 2019, and project the new debt will increase that budget item by less than $100,000 in 2020, budgeting $658,000 for debt service.

Another use of the money is to expedite goals laid out in the township's 2018 capital improvements plan, which is an ambitious 20-year plan to maintain roads, buy equipment and implement more recreational areas.

The township also sees lower expenditures or slower rises in expenditures in certain areas, which Rearick attributes in part to winter maintenance improvements and keeping health insurance costs for employees at a 1 percent annual increase by switching to a deductible-based health plan.

Taxes added to the budget in 2019 make a reappearance in next year's plan. Those include the controversial business tax, which charges $800 to businesses with more than $150,000 in revenue annually, as well as the fire hydrant and per capita taxes.

Despite no tax increases, the township's budget sees a surplus of nearly $270,000, which allows it to add more than $200,000 to its capital reserve fund.